Evening star., 1937-10-09
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Member q the Associated Press
The Spanish Omelette.

70 understand Mussolni's defiance of
Sreat Britain and France in delaying
reply to their demand for withdrawal
~ Italian volunteers" from Spain.
Americans need to picture to them
selves not only the peninsular civil war
and the Mediterranean, but the Far
East. Seldom in modern international
history have there been so many wheels
within wheels. 1t probably will surprise
Americans to learn that even the United
States now figures in the Spanish
oreette. Yet from the hour President
Roosevelt at Chicago last Tuesday
plunged head and foot into the world
maelstrom. this country became a factor
IN the plans Of the Western European
democraces to compel II Duce to bring
home his blackshrt legons from
Frances army. There are ominous
indications that we have almost become
. pawn.
The chain OF circumstances that pro-
tuce this phenomenon is of a sort to
strengthen the administrations un-
doubted resolve not to be made any,
body's catspaw in the Sino-Japanese
conflict. Although London and Paris
are reputedly pressing Rome for an
answer to the volunteer withdrawal
''ultimatum" submitted week ago.
latest British advices are that Downing
Street is suddenly silent" on Musso-
linifs procrastnation. His authorita-
lively indicated purpose is to reject the
Anelo-French program ID because Ger
many, Frances other ally was not in
sited to confer; 90 because partial
discussions" can lead only to new COM
phcationS and go because the problem
As whole can be tackled by the futile
London Non-Intervention Committee.
The Chamberlain governments disin-
elination to make any further move
at least openly-in the Spanish situa-
tion Is open to various interpretations.
Britain for one thing may be waiting
for fast-moving Far Eastern events to
some wishful thinking going on in Lon
don TO the effect that "the United States
Is increasingly taking over Britains ira
ditional role as the holder of the inter-
national balance of power, at least in
the Eastern situation" If any such
xoul-satisfying emotions are stimulating
John Bull, he has, in the Yankee ver-
nacular, another guess coming. Uncle
Sam Is not taking on anybody's role in
"the Eastern situation" or anywhere
else. British suggestions to that end,
II may be remarked in passing are def
nitely designed to kill the goose that
laws the golden eggs OF Rooseveltian
willingness to join in concerted ef-
fort" to preserve peace. The Chicago
speeeh did not mean that the United
States Is ready either to lead the in
ternational orchestra or even to play
first violin. If our British cousins and
French friends fancy they can con-
centrate their attention and energies on
Mussolini and Hitler, on Spain and the
Mediterranean, in the calm confidence
that America will look after Japan and
the Far East, London and Paris states
men are counting disillusionment.
Unquestionably the Fascist dictator
ships, intent rs ever on collecting divi-
dends on their investment in Spain,
figure that they can prolong their illicit
military operations there and their de-
fiance OF European democracies be-
canse Of the Sno-Japanese crisis. Mus
solini and Hitler may get away with it,
as they have on so many other occasions.
But whether they do or not is exclu-
sively the business of Britain and
France. plea that they have their
hands too full in Europe to worry about
Asia, and that therefore the American
fire department should take over the
job Of extinguishing the Far Eastern
blaze, is destined to strike the deafest
ears on which a specious scheme ever
fell. Washingtons answer to any dodge
Of that kind is nothing doing"