The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1937-10-21
ECONOMIC H1GHL1GHTs

ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
President Roosevelt's speech on
world affairs. in which he castigated
relationships and proposed a vir-
tual quarantine of bellicose powers,
is perhaps the most important inter-
national event of many months. 1t
was greeted with almost unanimous
praise in this country, by papers OF
all political affiliations. It charted
a definite course which this govern
ment is apparently prepared to fol-
low. It was direct, aggressive and,
for the head of government, ex-
tremely daring. In the view OF the
experts, it is believed certain that
the British and possibly the French
foreign offices were consulted be-
fore the speech was made, and that
the plan of action laid down by the
President is approved by the three
great democracies Of the world.
Mr.. Roosevelt's suggestion is as
simple as it is revolutionary. In eff
feet, he said that it might be neces-
sary to place a towering commercial
wall around the nations which are
responsible for today's war scares
and war prospects. Peaceful nations
would refuse to export to these
countries, and they would not inn
port from them. Little by little, as
supplies on hand dwindled, the be-
liggerent powers would find them
selves lacking in the raw and fin
ished materials which are essential
to life both in peace and in war.
Thus, faced with want and priva-
ton, would find it impossible to pur-
sue their dreams Of conquest.
The President did not mention
any country by name. But it was
obvious that he was referring to
three powers: Japan, Italy, Ger
many. Italy has taken over Ably
ssinia, in disregard of all treaties,
by armed force. Japan is attempt
ing to achieve q similar victory in
rich North China. And Germany,
with Hitler as its spokesman, makes
no secret of the fact that it regards
colonial expansion as essential.
The world effect of such q declar-
alton of potential policy would have
been nowhere near as great had it
come from the head of any other
country. We are remote from all
other major powers. We are peace
fully inclined. We are one Of the two
nations which are economically self
contained-that is, which possess
within their territorial borders the
resources needed to provide every
necessity and most of the luxuries Of
modern life. And, for the past few
years, We have been the great ques-
ton mark in international affairs
we have moved slowly, said little
and have kept aloof from participa-
ton in world events.
The Presidents attitude, rough
ly described, is that we could not
escape being involved in b major
war, that we must therefore cooper
ate to prevent war. He gave approval
to American cooperation with the
League of Nations which, signifi-
cantly is summed by Germany, Italy
and Japan. Out of this has come
the belief that in the immediate fu-
ture the world will be divided into
two camps-the democracies and the
relationships. On the side Of the
democracies there will also be the
only dictatorship which is economic
ally self ufficient-Russia.
The strength of an alliance be.
tween the democracies and the u
s. S. r. is impossible to exaggerate
From either the economic or mill.
tary standpoint, they are immense.
ly superior to the relationships
Japan, Italy and Germany must i'm.
port tremendous quantities Of tn,
basic commodities in order to exist
They must export their own special
tiles, such as silk and olive oil ant
ui,oo IN, order tn obtain foreign