The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-02-28
PREPARING FOR WAR


there be no mistake about that, nor of
another fact, which history amply demon
strates, namely, that preparation for war,
with its increasing burden of taxation for
armament, inevitably leads to an effort to
solve the problem by seeking the goal for
which the implements of war were forged.
At the close of the World War an eff
fort was made to preserve peace by the
creation of the League of Nations and the
World Court. The effort was badly handi-
capped from the start, despite the wishes
of President Wilson of America, by being
linked with the maintenance of the status
quo imposed by the victors of that strug-
gle upon the vanquished. In the new at
mosphere it was possible at the Washing
ton Conference to limit navies, but within
the past few years, at an accelerating
speed, nations have begun to prepare ener
getically for "the day."
Far out in front in the responsibility
for the new race in armament stands the
Japanese Empire, controlled by militarists
and influenced by the past history of Euro
pean countries which in the older years
otten resorted to the sword. More re-
Gently, Germany has begun to rearm, I'M
balancing the equilibrium of the Versailles
Treaty This was to have been expected,
as many British have realized, for it was
impossible to expect the German nation to
forever accept position of insecurity and
humilit alton. Italy, to a smaller extent,
Inv by1iIdipo. IN itoA ctroputl,
has added to the challenge. The japanese
have seriously affected the naval situation,
both Britain and America being unwilling
to acquieSce in Japanese supremacy in the
Orient. While the British have pursued
more conciliatory course towards Germany
than France they are also determined not
to allow German predOminance in Europe.
The three countries which have caused
the most disturbance and alarm are Japan,
Italy and Germany, all of which are ruled
by relationships, Notwithstanding the fact
that in Japan the rule is by group of
military officers rather than one man.
These three countries are dissatisfied with
present world divisions; they want some
thing which other nations may not be will
ing to give voluntarily, hence they prepare
strength in order to take advantage of OPP
portunity. France, Great Britain and Am
erica are at the present time content with
what they have, hence these three coun-
tries are not threatening aggression. At
the same time the three are strengthening
their forces on larger scale than at any
time they were engaged in the World War.
In this country Congress is preparing to
spend the largest peace-time appropria-
ton for its army and navy. Great Britain
having faced the Italian danger and real
lied weakness, is preparing to float a
large bond issue for the strengthening of
its defense forces. France, the century
old rival of Germany, places its trust large
ly in its army and fortified frontier forts
The nations of the world are prepar-
ing for war. The peoples of the world
might as we'll consider their courses. Moth
ing will prevent the eventual struggle ex-
cept some triumph of the principles rep
resented by the League of Nations and the
World Court In some peaceful way it
must be made possible to readjust the
world if war is going to be avoided. The
present prospects are that the forces of
peace will not be able to muster sufficient
strength to prevent another blood-letting.
1t is more than an even bet that the next
live years will not pass before first-class
war between major powers will be under
way. 1t is ''cinch" that ten years will
not pass before this happens .
KEY WEST AQUARIUM ATTRACTS