Evening star., 1936-08-12

President RoOSeveltS announced in
tention of speaking on foreign affairs"
at Chautauqua on Friday evening has
aroused keen interest in both political
and diplomatic circles here. There is
speculation among these groups not only
as to what the general tenor OF the
address will be, but as to the reason
which instigated it at this particular
time. While the White House has not
yet indicated what phases of foreign
affairs the President plans to discuss
and whether the present tense situation
in Europe is responsible for his essay
now into this field, it is pointed out i'll
authoritative quarters that the govern
mentS and peoples of many countries
abroad are anXiously awaiting some Of
fetal expression as to the attitude OF
the United States because of the way in
which it affects the stand Of these coun-
tries toward the pressing problems they
now face. The President, it is believed,
will touch on number of angles bear
ing on the relations of this Government
with the rest of the world, and the
nations abroad look for some reassuring
message which will aid them in solving
their complicated problems.
Il
Participation by the United States in
the effort which the European nations
are making to prevent the Spanish civil
war from spreading into a general con-
tinental conf1agration has been suggested
in an informal way. This was through
a proposal reported to have been made
by Germany that the adoption of nom
intervention policy by governments OF
Europe in the Spanish imbroglio would
be useless unless the United States also
should join in a ''hands-off" agreement.
While no formal representation along
this line has been presented to the State
Department, it is learned reliably that
one or more of the interested govern
mentS have been informed by their en-
baSSieS here as to the facts in the case
and as to the pertinent provisions of
present neutrality legislation in the
United States. Lack of adequate infor-
nation on this subject in some of the
chancelleries abroad and as to the au-
thority reposed by Congress in the hands
of the President is responsible. it is
believed, for some of the suggestions
which have emanated as to the possibil-
ity of active American cooperation in
the European problem.
X X X
Proof that "even when a man Is away
from his desk he is not always away
from his work" is furnished by the short
vacation which Secretary Hull is taking
somewhere in Virginia" Previous to
the departure of Undersecretary Phillips
in the near future to assume his new
post of Ambassador in Rome, the Secre-
tary thought it would be good time for
him to slip away from Washington for
several weeks. He found the telephone
"too handy" however, and so interested
is he in the work of his department and
in keeping in touch with developments,
particularly as regards the European sit
uation, that he makes frequent calls to
ascertain the latest reports and to advise
on any matters which he thinks require
his personal attention.
* X *x
Despite the enviable desire on the
part of many people to- keep the situa-
ton created by the unprecedented
drought which has afflicted the United
States this year from becoming the foot
ball of politics." it Is an inevitable con-
sequence that it should become in some
of its aspects campaign issue. Too
many questions involving the economic
and general welfare of the people are
. included In Its scope to make 1t other