The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-22
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
BY DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT ;. ALLEN.

NTASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-How
w closely the British are keeping
the United States informed Of every
move they make in a war-charged
Europe was emphasized in a recent
cable to the State Department by
the American ambassador in London.
Ambassador Bingham fairly glowed
as he talked about British courtesy
in giving him advance information
regarding everything they intended
doing. In fact the former Kentucky
judge sounded almost like that other
great friend of the British. Walter
Hines Page. who urged American
entrance into the World War during
the days of Woodrow Wilson.
Entirely aside from the personal
opinions OF Ambassador Bingham,
however, the most important devel-
Opment on the international horizon
as far as this country is concerned,
has been the constant exchange of
information with the British.
The nicetieS Of diplomatic Ian
guage do not permit the use OF the
word "cO-operation." Roosevelt has
been careful to keep the United
States clear of any alliances, indi-
rect or otherwise. But behind the
scenes there has been daily evidence
that within the limits allowed by
Congress, Roosevelt is giving what
moral support he can to Britain and
the League.
a Ii of these moves are of a con-
L y fidential nature and subject to
diplomatic denial However. below
are summarized the most impor-
tant:
The British inquired very in
formally what the United States
would do if a naval blockade was
imposed against Italy. The State
Department replied with equal in
formality) that the blockade would
be respected
,. The British inquired whether
in case of war. their fleet would
have the support of the American
fleet in the Pacific. So FAR as is
known, no commitment was given.
B, The American embassy in
Paris addressed an informal and
vaguely worded communication to the
Quai dOrsay which had the effect
OF placing the United States morally
behind the League and the British.
4. RooSevelt'S arms embargo proc
lamation from the Houston and
the warning to American citizens
against travel on belIigerent vessels
which meant Italian-was calcu-
lated to support the peace plans at
Geneva.
D. The action of the Federal Re-
serve Bank of New York in circular
lzlng member banks against cred
its to the belligerents-w again
means Italy-had the same purpose.
High officials responsible for
these moves are loath to discuss
them, but it can be stated that they
are motivated by two chief factors.
One is fear of trouble in the Far
East while the British are absorbed
in the Mediterranean. The jap
anese already have shown signs Of
aggression in Siberia and South
/ China.
The other is the almost certain
knowledge that if the AbysSinian
fracas is prolonged, the rest of Eu-
rope will come in.
The Roosevelt-HuI philosophy,
whether right or wrong, is that an
ounce of prevention now is worth a.
pound of cure later.
Il
A MAJOR crisis was narrowly
L A averted the other day in the
Navy Observation-Disclosures to
young officer and Noah Webster.
High-ranking officers sat solemly
passing on the names of new sub
marines, all beginning with the ini-.
tial IS" Among them the name
'Stingray" was read aloud.
ut is not Stingray but Stingaree,"
declared one gold-braided admiral.
Most certainly not" retorted an
other. "Stingray is right"
Other high-rankerS joined in the
controversy, including the roly-poly
Assistant Secretary, Henry L. Roose-
welt. It became a Naval engagement
with all guns in action.
Then Lieutenant Commander
Charles G. Moore suggested recourse
to the dictionary. The Assistant
Secretary approved. The Lieutenant
Commander thumbed pages, then
announced:
"Stingray is the correct form.
Stingaree is a debased version"
So the submarine was named &C
cordingly.
HENRY A WALLACE will take
IL 4 the next step on the subject Of
revising the Constitution when he
makes a speech in New York
Nov. a. Appearing on the same
program will be Hoover's Secretary
of Treasurer, Ogden L. Mills.
Copyright. 1885. BY United Feature
Syndicate. Inc
8 By George Clark