Evening star., 1936-05-24

Paris does not refer to Uncle
Sam as Uncle Shylock any more. These
days European statesmen talk about
the United States as that great de-
mocracy":: Baldwin is prepared to re-
vamp the covenant of the League of
Nations to slit the bitterest isolationist
in this country, and the French pre-
mier- designate, Leon Blum, like
Stanley Baldwin, has mentioned the
repudiated war debts "as a solemn
contract which must be maintained
in order to uphold international
probity."
In South America, the United
States is no more the imperialistic
COLOSSUS of the North" The eyes of
the Latin Americans are turned to-
ward the United States for help and
protection in the event of another
world conflagration.
The Republic Of Colombia recently
presented to the State Department in
Washington a definite and compre-
hensive plan for league of nations
Of the Western Hemisphere. The
matter is to be taken up and dis
cussed at the Pan-American Confer
ence at Buenos Aires in November of
this year.
In the meantime, the Latin Ameri-
can countries are one by one desert
Ing the Geneva organization. Brazil
and Costa Rica- are definitely out of
the League. Paraguay and Guate-
mala have resigned recently, while
Chile, Mexico, Uruguay and Colombia
intend to resign in the course of this
year. But they are all welded to the
idea Of collective security and want
another league restricted to the West
tern Hemisphere, with the United
States as one of its members.
Cannot Live in Isolation.
America, say foreign diplomats and
many of our own, cannot continue to
live in a splendid isolation. She is
one of the key wheels in the world
machinery and as such cannot escape
international responsibilities.
And today the question of which
way will America turn?" has become
the paramount problem of the world
chancellories. Is she going to join
the democracies of Europe - Great
Britain and France-in fighting the
relationships in Italy. Germany and
Japan, or will she keep out of the
international vortex and organize
new world Of her own in the Western
Hemisphere?
Great Britain, more than any other
nation, is interested in Americas CO.
operation with the Old World. For
the British Empire is facing the most
serious crisis in its history.
In Europe new power has arisen
the Italian Empire. Mussolini IS
openly challenging the British su-
premacy in the Mediterranean. Great
Britain is not prepared yet to take up
II Duce's challenge. and the British
are not prepared for war; the navy is
in some respects antiquated and al
together Inadequate The air fleet
has lapsed to the fourth or fifth
place.
Her Colonial empire in the Middle
East is restless. From Cairo to
Baghdad there is nothing but trouble
for the British.
The death of King Fuad of Egypt
deprived the British of a valuable
friend. King Fuad was little liked by
his subjects, but he had a good deal
of prestige with the Egyptian politi-
clans, whom he understood well; he
was wealthy and recognized strategic
moments for distributing handsome
presents to his foes.
Egyptian Situation Serious.
His successor, the 16-year-old King
Farouk, won't rule for another two
years. In the meantime, the regency
of politicians will have to follow the
trend of public opinion, which is
antagonistic to Great Britain. There
Is no doubt that the presence of the
bulk of the British Navy at Alexandria,
of $50 planes near Cairo and Port
Said and of $4,000 British soldiers,
might prove a deterrent to the
Egyptian nationalists. But Italy's ris-
ing power in the east and Italys
clever agents, well supplied with gold
and full of alluring promises for an
Independent Egypt, are successfully at
work. Egypt is seething with unrest
and full of hatred for Great Britain.
Across the Suez Canal the situation
Is not better. The Arabs in Palestine
are causing trouble. The uprisings in
Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv are not
directed. on the surface, against the
British rule, but against the Jewish
immigrants. The Colonial Office, how
ever, knows better. Despite the de-
mails of the Italian consul general in
Jerusalem, London has conclusive evi-
dence that the Palestine troubles are
being fomented by Italian agents.
The same thing applies to Trans
tordania and to the Hedjaz-Saudian
Kingdom, where King Ibn Saud, the
powerful Arab leader, is watching the
developments closely and expects to
fulfill his dream-a large Arab empire
extending from the Suez Canal to the
Persian borders-in the course of the
next IL months.
In the Far East the Japanese ex-
pansionist move Is starting again. With
complete disregard for treaties, the
Toxic militarists are pouring troops
into Northern China with the avowed
aim OF establishing, once and for all,
their domination on the Asiatic main
land.
Southern Pacific Foothold.
The drive to obtain q foothold in
the Southern Pacific, at the gates Of
the Indian Ocean and Australia, has
been revived lately. Two months ago
the japanese government once more
approached the Dutch government on
the subject of leasing" certain por-
tions of Java and Sumatra. The
Dutch have refused, but their minister
in London rushed to the foreign office
asking for help. The alarm of The
Hague government is fully shared by
Downing Street. The submarine forces
OF Holland In the Far Eastern possess
sions have been increased; two new
cruisers are being rushed to compile
ton. But that is all Holland can do.
Without the active support of Great