Evening star., 1935-07-24

Senator Key Pittman, chairman Of the
Foreign Relations Committee, thinks
that Great Britains action in abolishing
naval ratios constitutes an abandon
ment of the Washington treaty" and is
Just another move toward constituting
treaties as scraps Of paper" John Bull
is seen by many observers as succumbing
to O world-wid epidemic Of disregard
for international agreements, which be-
gan with Japans aggression in Man
churia, was followed by Germany's vio-
lation Of the treaty OF Versailles, Is man
ifested by Italy's plans for war on
Ethiopia, and only recently was illus
trated by Britain's consent to a larger
German navy than is permitted by the
World War peace pact. Some authorities
do not detect much difference between
Britains ditching of the ratio principle
and its abrogation by Japan last year.
The view Is commonly encountered in
Washington that the world faces the
danger of another costly competition in
naval armaments. with incidental perils
to peace. That the United States, come
what may, will adhere to the policy OF
equality with Britain and superiority to
Japan Is accounted foregone conclu-
sion. Naval-minded President Roosevelt
is credited with infiexible views on that
score.
Sudden suggestions that conservative
Democrats may hold q convention and
nominate a ticket Of their own in '36
such movements in our time have man.
aged to accomplish. The Bull Moose
schism in 1912 split the Republican party
and defeated Taft. The Democratic
gold bolt against Bryan in 1896 swelled
the Mckinley tide, but achieved no place
for Palmer and Buckner in the electoral
college. Even the magnetic Fighting
Bob" La Toilette in 1896, despite an i'm
mense popular poll, captured the elec-
toral vote Of only his own State Of Wis
consin. Political experts think it's un-
likely that conservative Democratic
nominees could carry a single State
against Roosevelt, though in certain
doubtful States it Is held possible they
might roll up enough strength to throw
electoral votes to r. D. RS Republican
opponent. That would be the main
danger to the regular Democratic ticket.
Either AL Smith or Carter Glass, 1t Is
widely believed, would be a big vote
getter for the conservative Democrats.
Nobody in Washington takes very seri-
ously the statement of the Ethiopian
Minister in London that his country
hopes to finance its impending war with
Italy by means Of an American loan
through j. p. Morgan & Co. Emperor
Halle Selassie is. at any rate. financially
one up on MusSolini in the United States.
Our money market is legally open to the
Conquering Lion Of Judah, which Is
more than can be said for II Duce, who
Is barred from it because Italy stands in
Uncle Sans books IS debt defaulter.
Lots OF people think the @, o. p. Is
overlooking q bet in concentrating its
New Deal fire on constitutional Ques-
tions and ignoring simple issue that
comes straight home to every household
in the land, viz, the bread-and- butter
proposition of the mounting cost Of liv-
ing. Significant evidence of existing con-
ditions Is supplied by developments In
New York City. Customers have re-
belled in such numbers against higher
prices that numerous restaurants have
been forced to abandon the effort to
pass on to patrons the general increase
in wholesale food prices. The result Is
O decision to revoke 10 per cent in
crease that was made in many menu
items ON April /. Thexpresident -of the
Society of RastaurateArs says 1t h&s