Evening star., 1937-05-23
y. s. SEEN PLAYING ROLE
in BRITAIN'S NEW POLICIES
Imperial Conference Turns on Govern
ment's Pacts in Europe and Pos
sible Trade Treaties With America.

Us d uledIlS VI SblcI cIlktlleIllllR CIlelI ONu
security.
Thus Premier Lyons of Australia
clearly indicated his country would
like to see some sort Of non-aggres-
sion pact in regard to the Pacific.
For the time being, the idea has been
advanced that such treaty should be
signed by the United States, Great
Britain, Japan and China The
Chinese republic was mentioned not
because 1t can play any part in the
security Of the Pacific, but because it
might become the cause Of major
conflict which will involve Great
Britain and Japan.
At the round table in Downing
Street are two men who have first
hand information about President
Roosevelt's views in regard to all in
ternational problems. They are the
president Of the Board of Trade, Mr..
Walter Runciman, and the premier Of
Canada, Mr.. Mackenzie King Mr..
Runciman was the guest Of the Presi-
dent few weeks ago. He spent sew
eral days in washington having fire
side chats with Mr.. Roosevelt and ex-
tensive talks with Mr. Hull. With the
former he discussed the world situa-
ton and the imperious necessity for
the United States to take q hand in
the present difficult situation in Eu-
rope. He was able to tell the British
government and the premiers Of the
dominions that Mr.. Roosevelt, while
reluctant to take any initiative, is
whole-heartedly in favor Of any kind
OF cooperation which might curb the
designs of the European and Asiatic
war loads. The conversations he had
with the Secretary of State covered ex-
clusively the field of economics. Mr.
Runciman felt his mission had been
not without success.
He convinced the Secretary of State
that whatever agreement might be
signed between this country and Great
Britain, or the British Empire, must
be operative in time Of peace as we'll
as in time Of war. The new neutrality
bill passed by Congress gives the Presi-
dent the power to provide the British
Empire with all it needs in the event
of a conflict.
Mackenzie King IS an old friend of
the United States. 1t was. he who
during Theodore Roosevelt's admin
1stration, when our relations with
Japan had reached the breaking point,
rushed to London to ask the foreign
office to put stop to Japan's ar
rogance. Canada, he informed the
somewhat amazed high priests of the
foreign Office, could not remain a pas
ican-Japanese conflict. The same
Mackenzie King has had his own fire.
side chats with the second President
Roosevelt, and both agreed that the
United States and the British Empire
must work together for the cause Of
peace. Thus, without participating
directly in the imperial conference,
the United States now is playing a
preponderant role In framing the
policies of the British Empire.
The dispatches OF Lord Tweedsmuir
governor general of Canada-the last
OF the empires representatives to
confer with Mr.. Roosevelt-are at
hand, too. And they are no less
optimistic regarding the future CO.
operation of this country with the
other English-speaking people than
the verbal reports Of Runciman and
King. And Mr.. Roosevelt's Ambassa-
dor at Large, Norman H. Davis, who
has recently been in London, was able
to confirm in his private converse
tions with the members of the Brit
ish government that he had not the
slightest doubt that the administra-
ton will be ready to cooperate with
the empire both In the development
of economic disarmament and in the
maintenance Of peace.
. It Is for this reason that the i'm.
perial conference, while giving a gooe
deal OF time and thought to the i'm.
portant problems outlined in thu
, previous paragraphs, has based mos
Of its discussion on British-Americar
. cooperation. They all recognize, how
{ ever, that in order to avoid rufninl
the sentiment Of the isolationist,
among the American people, any un
, derstanding must have a definite
! economic character, and that al
5 agreement dealing extensively will
the economic problems of the empir'
$ and the United States must be regoti
!, ated at the earliest possible moment
/ But such a pact must be conclude,
to secure the United States tacit rec
4 ognition Of it's share in the prob
t lens which vitality affect the empire
e British statesmen are confident tha
, on the day this pact is signed all tn
difficulties Of the British Empire
1 domestic and international-wil b
Y solved.