The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-03-19

III Entered as Second Glass Matter,
PUBLIC DEMANDS WAR \
The eyes of America are again
turned toward other shores.
The trouble-and trouble of the
utmost seriousness lis putting in its
appearance in both Europe and
Asia. The potential Importance of
what is happening in those CONT
nents, puts the long drawn out Ital-
ian embroglio in the shade.
One dramatic recent event was
the assassination of a number of
high japanese officials by war-seek-
ing army officers The japanese
censorship closed down tight, but
reports that drifted out indicated
that many regiments of soldiers
were in virtual state of revolt, that
military authorities had the more
conservative civil authorities on the
rum .s-
Emperor Hirohito managed final
ly to bring order out of chos, and
elaborate preparations are being
made to punish the assassins. How
ever, the way the japanese wind
blows is clear-there is a strong mi
nority in high places that believes
war is inevitable, thinks that now
is the time to dig the trenches and
start firing.
Second event to make big news
was Roy Towards interview with
dictator Stain of the U.S.S.R. Sta
lin told Mr.. Howard unequivocally
that Russia was prepared to fight
Japan, or any other country for that
matter, if a pacific settlement of
difficulties could not be made. The
dictator referred especially to ia
pans encroachment on the theoret-
ically independent Monaghan Re
public, which is a highly import
and buffer state to Russia. Stain
said Russia was prepared to take up
the sword any time to insure Mon
golian freedom. This is the first
time that Russia has made its POI
Sition clear and, whether you like
Stains views or not, he has the
reputation of meaning exactly what
he says, and of backing up his
threats when the time is ripe. And
Russia, under the Soviet, has be-
come a first-claSs military power.
Third event to make banner heads
was Germany's sudden military re-
occupation of the Rhine, in viola
ton Of the Locarno Pact. This was
not unexpected by the expert OBJ
servers, who were sure Hitler would
do it eventually, have been wonder
ing for a year or two when he would
act. Hitler justified the occupation
by saying that it was necessary to
German equality, that no martial
intentions were behind It. But Ger
many's neighbors, especially France,
think otherwise.
French commentators are free to
say that war with Germany Is In
evitsble some say next year, few
put the date farther off than 1888.
Both England and France are be-
ing very polite to Russia these days
and there Is talk Of military agree
ment between these powers to unite
in case of trouble. Russia, in turn,
hopes that England will help her
in case worst comes to worst In the
Far East. Russia is the connecting
link between Europe and Asia, must
keep an eye both east and west as
a result.
England has announced an arm
ament building program Of unprec-
edented size-a program so vast
and elastic that nothing more than
futile guesses can be made as to its
terrific eventual cost. Special atten-
ton will be given to building up her
air force, and to making it equal to
Germany's, which is now supposed
to be the best In Europe.
On Germany's side, there is a
rumor that Hitler and Mussolini
are getting together in building q
new alliance. Some experts, how
ever, doubt If this is true.
There is the troubled and con-
fused picture as it looks at present.
War can break out next week or
next year or any one Of q llalf-dozen
fronts. Italy, Germany and Japan
are the worst danger spots those
countries, there Is apparently q
large measure Of public demand for
another holocaust Of the 1914 var
iety.
Regardless of ones attitude to-
ward the New Deal. the AAA N. tho