Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-01-26
Renewed Activity of
U. S. Diplomats
BY O,oen L. Scott.


while President Roosevelt tried to turn
his back on the outside world, are busily
at work once again. Significant? De-
cidedly so, to judge by the stir that
results.
Diplomatic tongues are wagging just
now about a closer understanding be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain Freedom of the seas" pops
back into the limelight as continued
basic American policy, and the two great
maintain it, Maneuvers occur in the
Senate intended to scuttle any rigid neu-
trality law. A naval race heaves into
view. The Philippines, supposedly to
be cast adrift, take on new complexion.
In other words, signs accumulate that
the United States is slipping back into
the stream of world affairs in spite OF
isolationists and three years OF expert
ment with attempted isolation
The diplomats and the economists on
the ground here point out that two
powerful forces have been at work.
X X X x
One-encouraged by the New Deal
pointed the country toward natlonallsm
in economic affairs as we'll as in politics.
The President accepted this course when
he disrupted the World Economic Con-
ference in the Summer of 1888. N. R. A.
and A. A. A. and managed currency and
the general run of alphabetical expert
ments were part of the machinery de-
signed to enable the Uniter States to go
it alone, more free from the influences
that affect world affairs.
The second-now apparently overcom-
ing the f1rst-is driving the country away
from it's experiment with self-contain-
ment and back into internationalism.
Economic planning, which is necessary
for any nation that would live largely
within itself. cannot buck the Constitu-
ton and the Supreme Court. Also as
tried out by the New Deal, the attempt
at planning did not work SO well.
That raises the question: Where do
we go from here? Answers this time
are being sought by the diplomats as
well as by the economists. What those
answers will be remains uncertain but
there are beginning to be signs that
may tell.
Isolationists saw a chance to further
their cause in framing legislation to keep
this country free from ENHANCEMENT in
any future foreign wars. They favored
neutrality law that would bottle up
American raw materials and American
credits in the event of trouble abroad.
This program, as represented by those
who would impose mandatory neutrality,
involved sacrifice or narrowing of the
freedom of the seas policy.
Diplomats, however, baked at that
naya1nyNp1or1tc in the Senate U'hprp
legislation on the subject is taking form,
suggest that these diplomats are COM
ing out on top.
Senators Johnson and Borah and Con-
nally and others who WELD power be-
hind the scenes are opposed to neu-
trality law that would automatically
close trade channels to American COM
merce in its dealings with belligerents.
The result is that Senator Plttman,
chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee, has announced that the
existing loosely drawn neutrality law, the
life of which is scheduled to end Febru-
airy 20. probably will be continued for
two or three months.
In that time a permanent plan for
legislation may be drafted less sweeping
than the isolationiSts want. Or during
that period, basis may be found for its
indefinite postponement.
The reason for sudden change in sena-
torial attitude? Those Senators who
want to close American markets to war
ring nations think that the reason lies
in trade. Cotton States balk at the
prospect of an automatic loss Of some
of their markets in the event Of war
abroad. Oil States react similarly. The
same is true of other areas dependent
on foreign trade and aware that law
closing American markets to belligerents
would force present customers to discover
or develop new sources of supply that
would be available in time of war.
This country fought the War of 1912
and entered the World War to maintain
its rights on the sea. There is every
sign at the moment that none of those
rights is to be sacrificed in neutrality
law. Rather. the eyes of those who shape
national policy are turned just now in
the direction of foreign markets
But if the United States is to look
abroad and think about markets and
trade routes, it is forced at the same
time to think about naval power.
There, too. the trend is away from
isolation. When Japan, the other day,
demanded the right to build navy as
powerful as the Navy of this country,
the representatives of the United States
returned mo" for an answer. Japan
then Withdrew from the latest London
Naval Conference.
People in. this country have paid little
attention, but neither the Japanese nor
the Americans went home to forget
about their navies. Both returned to
get busy on new building and new arma-
ments that will be interpreted as repre-
senting a race in navy construction.
X X X
At that point occurs the new talk
about an understanding, or working ar
rangement, with Great Britain, in
which the navies of the two powers play
a part. This country's sphere continues
to be the Pacific. Britains chief interest
is in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.
Determination of Japan to have navy
as big as either is pictured as forcing
an American-British alignment.
Along with the naval building program
which will include the first dread
naught since 1921-goes talk of building
air bases in the Aleutian Islands, extend
ing west from the coast of Alaska.
Also figuring in the new Developments
is changing attitude toward the Philip
pines.
Congress barely year ago voted indie
fnr eli vTboiv fret