Evening star., 1936-02-20
This Troubled World.

While midwinter finds the United
States struggling with nothing more
serious than unusually severe weather,
many parts of the world are seething
with political turmoil of revolutionary
character threatening grave conse-
quences. The Western Hemisphere is
not immune from the epidemic, for
Paraguay, still bleeding from the Is
of its protracted conflict with Bolivia,
has been plunged into strife akin to
civil war
Overthrow of President Alaya's gov
ernment at Asancion comedies with
plans to bring the twenty-one Americas
into extraordinary conference" for
peace preservation. While the meeting
projected by President Roosevelt is con-
cerned with relations among the Ameri-
can states and not with their domestic
affairs, it does aim at establishment of
conditions that will render improbable,
If not impossible, sanguinary contro-
versy like the Paraguayan-Bolivlan
war, which is the direct cause of re-
bellious developments at Asuncion. Revo-
luton, in the light of history, seems
indigenous to the Latin American soil.
1t is not likely to be obliterated by even
the closest scheme of Pan-American
solidarity.
Spain is rocking with one of those
establishment of the republic on the
wreckage of Alfonso's throne. Earlier
in the week it appeared as if President
Zamora was doomed to fall, in conse-
quence of an army plot to prevent for
nation of Leftist cabinet in pursuance
of that party's recent election victory
There has been destructive rioting in
numerous population centers. Arrests
OF military officers suspected of foment-
ing an anti-government coup, have
taken place and other precautions in
voked which for the moment leave the
government in firm control, but pas
sions are running high, with Rightist
leaders reported ready to mobilize their
cohorts for extreme action. They oppose
in particular the Leftist program of
amnesty for participants in the 1884
Socialist rebellion. To what extent tram
quillity will be restored by resignation
of the Portela government is proble-
matical. Spain is likely to remain a
hotbed of political unrest and potential
revolution for some time to come
In France the government has insti-
tuted drastic repressive measures against
the Royalists, following their recent saw
age demonstration against the Socialist
leader, M. Blum. Between Royalist and
Fascist maneuvers, the French have their
full portion of woe, coupled with per-
sistent controversy in Parliament, where
just now the question of ratifying the
mutual assistance pact with the Soviet
is bone of bitter contention. Egypt
is writhing amid a recrudescence of
Anglo turmoil. German
Swiss relations are strained by a decree
ordaining the suppression of Nazi
organizations within the Alpine republic.
New Soviet-Japanese clashes darken
Asian skies.
Thus, East, West and South of these
placid American ATTITUDES Mother Earth
presents picture of stress and strife
which, by comparison, makes Uncle
Sans trials and tribulations look trifing.
Perhaps the one bright circumstance in
the worldwide vista of turmoil is that
the Ethiopian war seems less
likely than for some time past to pro-
woke a European confagration. That
Is something to be thankful for.