Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26
DEATH OF GEORGE HALTS
EUROPE'S RACE TO WAR
Nations. Welcoming Breathing Spell,
However, Still Are Seen Rapidly Trav-
cling Road That Leads to Conflict.

W NOllI1 lCls
of negotiations for limitation and
reduction of naval ornaments, and
likewise of general disarmament hopes.
The moral bankruptcy of the BRAND
Kellogg outlawry of war pact also
has not helped matters. The Leagues
loss OF prestige (Which may be re-
gained in part if it halts Mussolini's
African adventure) also affects Wash
jngton's foreign policy, despite Ameri-
cas- half-hearted aloofness from Cen
eva. Isolation, however. devoutly it
may be desired, is in reality unat-
tainable. The neutrality tangle is
showing that. National legislation
ito keep us out of war" unless CORE
lated with international procedures,
cannot be effective.
Naval Race Continues.
A series of circumstances. bound
together by economic, social and po-
litical forces, is chiefly at fault in the
acute cases of international filters
Mussolini was prompted by domestic
political motives to start building air
planes and battleships and super
liners. The keels Of the 35,000-ton
dreadnoughts Vittorio, Yeneto and
Littorio were laid down France.
which had ordered the $4,000 tonners
Strassbourg and DunkerQue to meet
the menace of Germany's spectacular
welded pocket cottniered
with two more 36,00O-ton battleships.
Now the Nazis have started constrCc-
ton Of a brace of 10000 ton super
dreadnoughts, Diesel motored and
electrically forged. Great Britain mas
gladly called off all bets vis-a-vis the
United States to preserve her two
for-one" continental naval ratio, and
rumor says her surprise will be
leviathan exceeding $4,000 tons dis
placement with armorplate 2 feet
thick. That may be what lies behind
her sudden change Of front in the
big ship-little ship" controversy
which has ragged between American
admirals and British seadogs since
1927.
Washington views with unconcealed
alarm the political and military de-
velopments in the Far East and is not
opposed to free hand for the pres
ent. Later. maybe, with or without
war, the world may return to naval
sanity. ...,.
The internal situation In France is
touchy.. Only the spectre Of Hitler on
the eastern horizon has fept warning
political factions under control dur
ing the past Is months. Now the
barriers have been broken. The rival
Common Front and the Croix de Ecu
nationalist groups have not disarmed.
They merely signed an armistice and
cached their machine guns and motor
lorries. Elections scheduled for the
end Of April and the first week in
May may not be held.
Before that time the financial stu
alton may force the issue. BY Summer
the government has to raise $780,
100000 francs to cover expenses.
French people are no longer buying
rentes OF bonds. They are putting
their money in the traditional sock
or sending it to Holland, Switzerland
and London. The French government
is finding it increasingly difficult to
obtain credit in foreign banks on
favorable terms. Borrowing in the
United States is forbidden. Where
the way out will lead is anybody's
guess
In the Third Reich things are quiet
ON the surface. But there as in
France, unemployment is increasing
despite military activities and heavy
ornaments orders. The Nazis have
their hands full with domestic troubles
religious, social, economic as we'll
as political Hitler wisely is main
tanning hands-on policy in the Italo-
Ethiopian squabble. He stands to gain
more by selling out than taking sides
with the almost inevitable loser, Italy,
Yet the Nazis are not averse to rock
ing the boat, and if they can demand
and receive as their price for being
good boys. now and eventually col
laborating with France, the scuttling
Of the Franco-Soviet pact, they win
have made good bargain.
Ethiopian Situation Marks Time.
For the time being the Ethiopian
dispute will be relegated to the back
ground. The Leagues policy will be
one Of Sitting tight" and letting such
sanctions as have been imposed get
in their work. Time is ON the side
Of both Geneva and Adds Ababa-
time and Dame Nature, who seems to
have allied herself with her black
children.
Since Britain so eifectively-albeit
at the eleventh hour-called II Duces
bluff, there has been no immediate
danger OF war In Europe. Even the
Mediterranean has been safe. Frances
dilly-dallying was prompted chiefly by
driving a hard bargain with London.
Laval wanting to retain both the
Stresa front and the entente cordiale.
When he realized he could not do so
he cleverly played both ends against
the middle, even at the risk Of slipping
through between.
But the issues centering around