The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-03-05
NATIONAL PRESS BLDG.

Neutrality the jump, tn e n
n Shell fails to take II.
1t faltered on the
neutrality question. True. congress
has re-enacted for another year the
neutrality law that was put through
under pressure year ago but II
did not have the necessary cour-
age to 60 into that question and
work out anything of a permanent
character. The result, / am con-
vinced, is that as soon as there is
any excuse whatsoever, neutrality
for the United States will be moth
ing but shell.
l do not know, nor do l believe
anybody can tell at this juncture
whether the United States ought to
embark on a rigid policy Of isola-
ton from affairs of the world but
that is q question that is subordi-
nate at this moment. The point Is
that congress, a year ago, made
great show of neutrality and put
on q second stage performance on
" lately with the same theme song.
Since it has backed away from the
real issue it begins to appear that
the original action was but hollow
mockery; that the politicians
moved a year ago with the thought
in mind that they would not have
to 90 on record so soon and that
they could make the country feel
It had elected statesmen. But, in
stead, their course had led them to
the point where decision had to
be made-and they have lodged it.
One of the reasons why this neu-
trality question has become so I'M
portant is the combination Of cir
cumstances that has developed In
Europe. The maneuvers have put
our congress on the spot and 1t,
like so many previous times, again
has wavered.
It is difficult to forecast what is
going to happen in Europe but
there are certain signs and por-
tents that may not be ignored. His
tory, as we all know, has a habit
Of repeating itself and 1t promises
to repeat itself in a hurry this time.
Let us look at the European pic
ture. On the one hand we have an
alignment of France and England
and probably Russia. On the
other, we see Hitlerized Ger
many, Austria and italy. There
has been nothing more tangible
thus far than a barring of fangs.
That is, no overt acts have been
committed but 1t always has been
the case that the snarling and show
ing Of teeth has provided the set
ting, the atmosphere, for more seri-
GUS accusations. 1t may never hap
pen that Germany or Austria or
Italy will take steps which France
or Russia could regard as an inva-
sion of national rights and then,
again, any one of them at any time
2 may accidentally or deliberately do
some minor thing that would pro-
woke hostilities.
The chief significance of the re-
ported alignment Of Italy with Ger
many and Austria
NeU Is that the Gen.
Alignment trail Powers, a S
they stood in 1914,
have been augmented by the
strength Of Fascist Italy. 1t means
that the Germany of 1914 has &C.
cess to the North sea and the Medi-
terranean instead Of just the North
sea as occurred 20 years ago. .
Coupled with that fact is the con-
dition of better defense for the
Central Powers. If the agreement
between Germany and Italy sticks,
Germany has only the western and
Russian fronts to maintain. It al
lows for more compact military
program because, instead of guard
Ing against Italy on the South, Ger
many has an ally in that direction
from which sources of supply can
be established. ~.
The fresh understandings worked
out between France and England
really are nothing more than a res
toration of the arrangement that
existed in the World war. The
British. on the surface at least, have
no compact with Russia but the
French have very definite agree.
ment with the Soviet. 1t seems
likely, therefore, that If hostilities
should break out again, the British
and the Soviet will have no difficult
ty in establishing a pact of mutua.
help.
AS a sidelight, 1t seems to me
that the new developments rather
turn the spotlight on the policies
OF Pierre Laval. former French for.
elgn minister. Nj. Laval. it will be
remembered, was ousted because of
alleged pro Italian policies. he
sought for months to maintain
friendship between France and tia.
~ because he feared to do other,
wise would result in alignment OF
MuSsolini with Hitler. The bulk OF
the French parliament disagreed
with him, however, and NJ. Laval