Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-03-05

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France Backs the Mediterranean
Britain between the forces
Of Mussolini and
the British there will be French sup
port. 1t means, therefore, that Mus
solini hardly dare disturb the concen-
tration of British warships around
the Suez. To do so would call down
upon his head not only the shells of
the British fleet but those Of the
French as well.
For the French, the revived under
standing with Great Britain gives sup
port against the slow flow of Hitler
lava into the Rhineland which was
demilitarized BY the Treaty of Ver-
sailles at the end Of the World war.
The French are very touchy about the
Rhineland and any attempt by Ger
many to fortify that territory makes
French nerves very jittery. 1t is only
natural, then, that the French look
upon the agreement with London as
an assurance of security in event Hit
Ter should strike in the Rhineland.
Through it all, foreign advices in
dictate that British fists are gradually
being doubled up against Hitler. This
is true Notwithstanding the fact that
the new King Edward VIII is trying
to be friendly with Germany. For
eign dispatches and private advices
explain that there is a notable re-
currence among the British of discus
sion recalling Germany atrocities in
the World war. Slowly but surely
throughout England the old hatred is
| arising.
On the northern frontier of Germany
there is new line of steel. The Com
munistic state of Russia looks with
disfavor upon the Nazi. My informa-
ton is that it would take very little
to provoke trouble there.
Altogether, the situation is one
where, if a stone rolls down a noun
tain side, it could very easily become
the defamation cap that would explode
an ammunition dump.
| With these facts in mind, one can
understand readily the gravity of the
relations between the United States
and the rest of the world. One can
understand as well why congress was
rather anxious to avoid legislation of
broader scope in international af-
fairs than already was operative. Yet,
this does not alter the fact that If
congress had no intention of estab-
fishing a real neutrality policy, it
should not have embarked on q course
designed to that end. 1t was either
engaging in game Of fooling the
| public year ago or it has just now
demonstrated a most cowardly atti-
tude.
Now, to get back home, we observe
maneuver by President Roosevelt
to link North and
KooSeUeIts South American ma
MoneuUer lions into new
agreement. While
none of our officials will say that this
| move has any connection with Euro
| pean development, l believe that OBJ
servers generally are of the opinion
that 1t has an important bearing on
the situation beyond the Atlantic. 1t
ought to be helpful in keeping the
United States out of that mess or, If
the future forces us into it and, In
the meantime, there is a sound ar
rangement worked out between ma
tions Of the western hemisphere, their
combined strength ought to put an
end to European strife more quickly
than If those European nations were
left to fight it out alone. In other
words, if Mr.. Roosevelt can work out
a binding agreement between all the
nations of the western hemisphere,
they can exert tremendous influence.
This influence will carry further
than on the homeland of any Of the
countries now involved in the Euro
pean case of filters. 1t possibly may
extend to the point of becoming the
balance of power in the settlement of
colonial disputes between the central
powers and the newly re-established
allies. European interests in South
America are important and II our
South American neighbors have the
important weight of the United States
on their side. they will be in posi-
ton, for the first time, to force proper
adjustment of colonial rights In the
western hemisphere insofar as those
colonial rights are concerned in set
Element of European differences.
@ Western Newspaper Union.