Evening star., 1936-11-22
US. PEACE STEP AWAITS
COLONIAL TERMS ABROAD
Until Problem Is Out of Way, Roosevelt
Faces Difficulty on Arms Limitation
and Economic Disarmament.

OEOl1 tAXkc 4dCcOkOiAB COL AfSoeAy
than In the past, because Berlin had
told him that President Roosevelt was
anxious to bring about q settlement
of the European problems, and desired
that the more important spade work.
mainly concerning the four great
Western powers of Europe, should be
done before the end of this year.
Friendly Consideration.
Ribbentrop has suggested that pro-
posals should be made to him to be
transmitted to Berlin for friendly
consideration" Hitherto no such con-
crete proposals have been forthcoming,
although there have been hints not
altogether displeasing to the Berlin
foreign office.
For instance, Ribbentrop has been
unoffcially-that certain men,
bers of the British cabinet do not re-
gard the tropical mandates created
by the Versailles treaty as being all
on the same ipalienable footing as the
pre-existing British territory. But it
was added again officially - Great
Britain cannot compel the self-govern-
ing dominions to hand back Southwest
Africa, part of New Guinea and Samoa
to the Reich. To this Ribbentrop is
reported to have replied that Just be-
cause the German government realizes
the difficulties which the British gov
ernment will encounter in asking the
self governing dominions to part with
something which was given to them,
it has suggested the cession Of terri
torial entity which belongs outright
to the British and the French govern
ments.
When the British foreign ofice
hoped on Secretary Hulrs idea that
Great Britain. should supply from its
manifold resources the raw materials
Germany needed for her industrial de-
velopment, the plan was received with
frigid silence by the German Ambas-
sador. Only few days ago Herr Won
Ribbentrop was told that under cer-
tain conditions 1t might be possible for
the British government to consider the
cession Of that country's share of To-
goland and the Kameroon, and con-
CSAfdOly thC d116 Ind 4Cil1Voly, W
satisfy Germany's demand for raw
materials and place Anglo German
relations on a solid basis OF mutual
friendship. At the same time, it was
hinted that the Blum cabinet might
consider the retroceSsion to Germany
of the colonial territories acquired
after the war.
Colonial Problem to Italy.
The colonial problem as far as Italy
is concerned presents fewer difficult
ties. The British and the French gov
ernments have become convinced that
Mussolini, for the time being, at least,
has enough on his hands with the or
ganization Of Ethiopia to want no
other colonial expansion. All he de-
mands in order to stop his saber rat
tling is assurance that Great Britain
will not endeavor to take away what
he has conquered and, in order to show
her good faith, MuSsolini wants the
British government to recognize the
conquest of Ethiopia as an accom-
plished fact. Grandi, II Duce's AM
bassador to London, has been told that
an outright recognition at the present
time would not be possible. The Bald
win cabinet, and in particular Secre-
tary Anthony Eden, after having
fought Italy at the League of Nations,
could not now recognize the de jure
occupation of Ethiopia without losing
face in Britain and abroad.
But, Grandi Is being told, 1t Is not
impossible that, in the event of
general settlement of the European
situation, the matter of recognition
of the Ethiopian conquest might be
considered. In the meantime ways
and means to grant Italy the neces-
sary funds for the economic develop
ment of her new colony are being
studied in London and in New York,
both financial markets working hand
in hand in this matter.
The colonial question: burning
one for the European states-i in
itself of little consequence to this
country. d.
We have no colonies to speak Of
and are only too anxious to dispose
Of the surplus raw materials we are
producing every year in increasing
quantities. But the administration in
is following with intense
interest the conversations between the
Europeans "haves" and "have-nots"
because on the settlement of that
question depends, to great extent,
the paciflcation Of Europe.
Unless that question is out Of the
way, it will be difficult for President
Roosevelt to tackle the problem of
limitation of armaments and economic
disarmament next year.
(Copyright, 1850