Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-12-24

"CIC ludhlIlk dL
Christmas. 1918, when they were
emerging from four years of war.
Can 1t be that the German people,
with all their munitions and all their
instruments Of war, would start into q
conflict with another power when the
vital necessities of the -combatant
population are already so scarce?. 1t
took a naval blockade of worldwide
proportions to starve Germany into
submission. Today Germany, by rea-
son Of a financial blockade imposed as
a consequence of her own inflationary
experience and misguided nationalism,
is in virtually the same position as she
was 10 years ago-she has no extern
sive credit outside her borders and no
husbended resources of gold and sup
plies inside her border.
Crisis Being Approached.
Germany has often been thought
to be on the verge of collapse in recent
years. but dispatches during the past
week indicate that some kind of
crisis Is in prospect. There are some
mere in diplomatic quarters who think
this in itself might precipitate war;
that Hitler would find an excuse for
entangling the nation in a war as
way to excuse the collapse of his eco
nomic policies. But this seems hardly
plausible, because the German peo-
pie remember all too well the suf-
ferings of the World War, and when
food supplies begin to be matter Of
rationing as in war times, they will
begin to grow suspicious and perhaps
rebellious.
So far as the Western World is con-
cerned. there is peace, and recently at
Buenos Aires q rededlcation to the
cause Of peace. Likewise, the anti-war
feeling has reached unprecedented
strength in America. The scrupulous
effort to draw neutrality laws and en-
bargoes which would prevent Amer
lean citizens from entangling their
country in war is but one of num-
Der OF symptoms of the peace senti-
ment Of the United States.
NationaIism Foe Of Good Will.
l. there good will" in the world?
Hardly. Nationalism, both political
and economic, have attained a new
high in scorn for the well-being of
other peoples. The spirit which ami
mated Christianity from the beginning,
the ideals which first gave it univer-
salty was based on a concept of the
brotherhood of man.
Today the brotherhood of man is
not even remembered In the gestures
Of nations to each other. The theory
today Is that nations must develop
lf-suficiency and extract from each
other the maximum advantage with
out giving in return anything but the
minimum.
It is true that the United States
has embarked on a policy of reci-
procity in trade agreements, but even
this policy is bitterly fought in prin-
ciple as well as in detail. Likewise,
the moral power of the United States |
which might be exerted in the chan
oelleries Of Europe to further the !
cause of peace is not exerted because
Of q automatically developed an
tipathy for all things foreign.
To prevent war for the United |
States by trying to stay out of it |
when the conflict, arises abroad is ad- |
mittedly difficult, and 1917 shows how
even the best of intentions can fail. |
TO prevent war by being active as a
moral influence when the steps lead
ing up to war are in process is a prin-
ciple that appeals to peace-loving
citizens, but the Government here is
rather cautious about any public or |
private expressions in that direction |
for fear Of drawing the fire Of the
nationalists.
Pleas Seem Vain.
Mr.. Roosevelt's speech at Buenos
Aires was an indirect appeal to Eu-
rope, but it will require more than
exhortations to affect the govern
ments Of foreign lands.
The basis of much of the trouble |
In the world today is insincerity. ]
People who are hungry feel insecure. |
Nations impoverished are insecure and |
reach out for colonies or trade to help
their suffering peoples.
Announcement of an economic in |
terchange, worldwide economic con-
ference, in which all nations and all |
governments participate, consulta-
ton In which an effort would be made
to agree on the principles that should
be applied to bring about worldwide
Unemployment without resorting to
artificial economic processes such as
armament building would be the best
Christmas or New Years present the
world could possibly receive. For it
would be recognition of the fact that
good will among men can come only
out Of q mutual regard for the well
fare of fellow human beings.
(Copyrfght. 1851