Evening star., 1936-02-02
NATIONS AWAIT EFFECT
OF FANCLO-CERMAN AMITY
Attitude of Edward VIII Vital to Pacific
Policy With European Changes Likely
to Give Japanese Navy Supremacy

| many some leeway in the coming re-
settlements Of the Versailles treaty,
which actually concerns American ma
val policy. For Germany, 1t is rather
soundly surmiSed looks no more to-
ward France as probable opponent:
for France, after sil, has work for q
| hundred years in her African do
mains-and would even now like 10
drop the hot potato Of the Rhine.
1t is, of course Russia that bars the
way to German dreams. Just as in
1914 the specter Of the Berlin-Bagdad
Railway and the German penetra.
tons into Turkey caused Tsarist min
isters sleepless nights, even now the
Soviets think mainly, when they think
of war of the same nightmare. And
1t is Germany, in conjunction with
Japan, which actually constitutes the
main threat of imminent war; for
they are now most acquisitive.
Japan, building her huge navy, ac-
tually constructs it as a rear guard,
as a floating fortress protecting her
home while engaged in Manchukuo.
Japan has her hands full in China.
Nothing could be more disastrous for
Japan than naval warfare with the
United States. The potential enemy
the actual enemy, in fact-of the
highly geared industrial empire OF
Japan is the Soviet state The iden-
tical enemy for the Germans is that
Communist economy.
Edward VIII, who holds the direc-
ton, if not the decision, of European
peace, comes to the throne the pos
SCISSOR of a most valuable lesson in
what happens when gas expands. His
father, George v, also came to the
throne inheriting warlike problem
which, in his time, proved insoluble.
But he had got no lesson such as
Mussolini has just given England: nor
had he, gentleman devoted to naval
exercises, the stencil of four years in
Flanders in his nostrils. Edward VIII
had his lesson and his memories. And
he also knows that, when bankrupt
people have set up a careerist-dictator
as their talisman. it is last des-
perate measure in enunciating their
very real needs and dreams.
Central Europe Expansion.
The decision then. which will con-
front peace-seeking European nations
for the next breath-taking two years
lin which time the Germans will have
finished their war machine) is in the
matter of Central European expansion.
All Europe wonders if France, despite
her alliance with Russia will breathe
freely to learn that the irreconcilable
captains of fascism and communism
have decided to fight it out upon the
eastern plateau of Europe. And, il
that conflict ensues. America must
certainly stand fast and determine. in
the course of time, whether her eco
nomic interests in the Far East can
brook the spectacle of japanese SUI
premacy in the Pacific. For con-
flict between Hitler and Stain will
whatever else it invokes-give the
japanese the full hand in the pacific.
1t is all a witch's brew, made of the
mistakes of mankind. But no one who
moves about Europe as an observer
can see postponement of what is be-
lieved inevitable by the most chari-
There is not a country, not even
our own, which does not expect to be
magnifcently endowed with fighting
forces upon the sea and in the air by
that time.
1t is a cruel fate which brings Ed
ward VIII to the throne in a Europe
which is filled with broiling youth in
uniform. Whether he looks at Ger
many or Italy or Russia he will find
millions of them. 1t is more RESPONSE
bility than a constitutional monarch
cares to assume, to reconcile such diff
ferences. But his direction, his friend
illness either to Russia or Germany.
means even more in this Edwards day
than his grandfasher's. the other Ed
wards, meant generation ago. And,
by the same token, this friendliness Is
of vastly more significance for Amer
leans, who just at present concentrate
what is destined to be the worlds most
formidable naval power in the Pacific.
At any rate. no observer I've seen
Gin some years of wandering about
the world with cameramen) believes
that the worlds masters are competent
to settle the thing without bioodshed.
There is hope though that somehow
the Young King. who has witnessed
the mistakes of the past can achieve
the miraculous.
(Copyright. 1895. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc)