The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-26

in 1914 that Great Britain
 At that time Britain pursued 0 mythical policy of Aloofness toward the squabbles on tho cor- tinent. The English Channel to her was what the Atlantic ocean was to US.
 But today, modern invention, particularly aviation, has nAr- fowed the English channel to 0 mere rlvulet, and contracted the Atlantic ocean 30 that the United States, in effect, holds the balance for peace or war.
 whether we have Q Neutrality Act or not, it k probably true that today the United States occupies Q position equivalent Co Che British in i9iA, and that K Germany and Italy knew deeln. ltely In advance that the United States would enter Q war they would not preclpltate it.
 This is not the opinion of state department experts alone. It is the very general view of iIn- partial and fon.political foreign affairs experts; and whether tho Senate likes 1t or not, this is the biggest foreign affairs problem possibly the biggest of oil prob. aems--beforO the Roosevelt Ad. ministration.
 Latin American FasClsn1
 Where fascism hits the United States full in the face Is South America. We woke up to this only with recent events In Brazil, but for some time the Fascist states, deprived of actual colonies, havo found substitutes by building up unofficial colonies In South Amer ica. By trade, radio, air lines, Nasi.controlled newspapers, and by subsidized local political par- ties, Germany, Italy, and to c lesser extent, Japan have done exactly what Russia iS accused of doing, but without success.
 Their policy has been cheaper than conquest and has not aroused tho active opposition of Che United States
 Should these NaHl. .FnBciSt forces Do seriously threatened by social. ist or liberal groups In South Ainerica, however, Germany md Italy probably would do as they did in 9pAln--send "volunteers".
 The repercusslons ln the United States can Do imagined.
 This country would not go to war to protect her economic re- lations with Latin America, but when thosO relations arc included as part of . moro tangible policy, such as tho Monroe Doctrine, then 1t might be impossible to sto public Indignation and war.
 Indo. China Fiasco
 Some important details regard. ing the French fndo. Chinese ein- bargo on arms to China which have not leaked out indicate that lt Was ono of the most siRnifi- cant of all events during tho Far Eastern embrogl!o.
 China has been receiving munitions via the railroad which Cr0aBes tho French 1ndO- China border Into South China. The Japanese threatened to bomb this line unless shipments were stopped, and to seise the Island of IlainAn off the Ind0. China coast Co use nS c bombing base,
 Hainan N not French, but Chinese. Moreover, the Japanese threatened to bomb only that part of tho railway on Chinese soil. Tho part on French soil was to remain uSlscathed. But French francs arc invested in the Chinese section of tho railway, 60 tho French capitulated.
 Before they dld SO however, they secretly asked tho State De- partment whether France ceuld have tho protection Of tho U. z. fleet ln case of R serious brush with the Japanese. Mr. ROose. welt figured that American pub. Ilc opinion would not stand for this and said "No".
 So for c few francs In c Chinese railroad, the French threw over- board their traditional policy of aiding c viotimised nation and taking joint action against an aggressor. This Is tho policy they have been urging on the .. 6. 4, for years. In other words, peace principles went by the boards whore economic investments were concerned.
 Japan Spies
 Just Q day or SO before the American fleet was scheduled to leave San Francisco harbor on the last iiianeuvefs, q Japanese tanker anchored offshore, waiting for tho fleet to como out. On the tanker, according to Naval Intelligence, HNR9BV eE(RlR9 nRSNARAN