Evening star., 1937-06-28
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

One of the outstanding impressions
derived from Belgian Premier Van Zee
lands visit to Washington is that Euro
pean tension is distinctly less than it
was a year ago. This does not mean, OF
course, that another unforeseen episode,
like the German bombardment OF
Almeria, might not suddenly flare out Of
the Spanish crisis and plunge the Old
World into blood and tears. Barring
such a development, as to which no
responsible statesman would risk a
prophecy. the outlook for peace is con-
sidered far brighter than current alarms,
fears and suspicious lover there would
seem to justify. Just as Europe's tan
gled economic situation does not at
present warrant the convening OF an
other international conference on trade
and finance. the European states are
seen as equally unprepared for war. The
bellicose policies and actions OF the
Fascist powers and the defensive meas
ures which the western democracies feel
compelled to take against them are plain
indications that Europe expects war
may come sooner or later, but not now.
Official Washington notes with SYM.
pathetic interest Prime Minister Cham
berlain's advice to Great Britain to
keep COOL" It is the unexpressed, but
acknowledged, belief of American au-
thorities that the surest way OF avoid
ing trouble is for all Europe to take
the Chamberlain admonition to heart
in the Yankee idiom, to keep its collec-
tive shirt on.
"A pleasant time was had by ALL seems
to summarize about everything that
happened at Jefferson Island over the
week end. President Roosevelt proved,
as expected, genial host, a good list
ener and a charming II not altogether
successful advocate of all those causes,
legislative and humanitarian, that
momentarilt are close to his heart.
While certain recalcitrant members OF
House and Senate came and saw,
there's no evidence they were con-
uuered On the cardinal issue OF the
Supreme Court controversy, Admins
tration opponents remain convinced that
roll calls in both houses will promptly
demonstrate that the picnic left pro
and con lines unchanged in any mate
rial degree While F. D. r. seems stu
diously to have avoided welding the big
stick, the get-together ended with a
pretty general feeling that he ardently
desires his ought" legislative program.
including the court BILL relief, wages
and hour act and farm tenancy meas
ure, to be enacted before Congress ad-
iourns. Unquestionably. the broad
objective Of the love-feast was accom-
plished-to enable Democratic gentle
men from Capitol Hill to brush shoulders
with the President and establish brand
of political contact which the rank and
file has resentfully missed in the past
One of Washington's well-known law
yers has Just returned from trip to
ancestral heath in the Ozark Mountain
country OF Missouri. Among the high
spots of his visit was attendance at the
old hometown high school commence
ment exercises. AS indication that the
class of '37 is fully abreast of the times
he found it had adopted as its gradua-
ton slogan: wv. P. A., Here We Come!
Premier Paul Van iceland Is de-
termined that, as far as lies in his power
the Princeton Tiger breed in Belgium
shall not die out. The Brussels states
man proudly explained to Washington
friends that not only is he himself sor
of Old Nassau, but that brother shares