The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-12-05

expenditures. On the contrary, all In
dlcations are that the Japanese people
approve Nippon's mllltarstic course,
believe 1t to be essential to their fu-
ture, and are fiercely willing to make
ally sacrifice for their country.
Military Rule in Japan
Even those most optimistic about
Americas contention that armament
cost should not be increased by any
for Is change OF sentiment. perhaps
a year from now. perhaps later on.
The answer OF the army and navy
to this Is that IL the opinions of the
Japanese did change, it would not make
any difference. 1t has been DEM
onstrated too often, they Insist, thar
the Japanese people believe what they
are told, and are absolutely under the
thumb of the military ollgarchy.
In this respect, In the American mill
tary view, they differ sharply from
Europe-Germany and Italy. For the
present there Is no one to oppose the
will of Hitler In Germany or Mussolini
In Italy. But no one knows what will
be the situation In either country ten
years from now. Or even one year
from now.
Italy and Germany are each DOM
mated for the time being by one strong
man. And no one can venture a
prophecy as to what would happen after
that strong man passes from the stage.
There is nothing comparable to that
In Japan. In Nippon 1t is a group Of
high army and navy officers who DOM
mate. The death of any ten Of them
makes no material difference In the
general objective. The policy has been
adhered to for many years 1t is to
dominate China, and make Japan a
world power. Ever since the Russo
japanese war It has been one forward
step after another, with an occasional
sldestep such as the abandonment OF
Shantung after the Washington .arma-
ment conference.
The navy does not even feel that
the freedom of the Philippines lessons
the danger Of war between the United
States and Japan.
Canadian Treaty
Down underneath all the clamor
against the Canadian reciprocity treaty.
expert detectors of popular sentiment
here believe the country will approve
It. Further, they believe that If the
treaty Is approved In Ottawa-whlch
incidentally seems by no means certain
despite the majority by which Mac
Kenzie King so recently came back
into power-the net effect will be a
Roosevelt asset at the polls.
Should Ottawa reject the treaty, on
the other hand, feeling here is that the
net effect will be Injurious to the adj
mlnistratlon In the election next year.
This is based on a fundamental po-
litical factor-human nature. Many
business men, economists and experts
In international trade have figured that
II the reciprocity treaty negotiated
with Canada In the Taft administration
had gone Into effect, the net effect
would have been beneficial But no
politician who was active at the time
d0Vhts/fhat 1t was a serious handicap
to Mr.. Taft when he faced reelection
Had the treaty gone into effect, 1t Is
reasoned, and had the opposition to Mr..
Taft promised the country to abrogate
the treaty, then every one who was d.
rectly beneftlng under the treaty
would have been driven to Taft's de-
Tense to protect their selfish interests.
But there was no possibility, as 1t
appeared when Taft was running for
reelection, that the treaty could be
revived Hence there was no selfish
element to be driven to Taft's aid,
while all and sundry who thought they
would have been hurt by the treaty
were still resentful at what they
thought Taft had tried to do to them,
and were easily in1amed against him.
This was especially effective In the
Northwest.
Lumber Interests Howl
This time the loudest outcries are