Evening star., 1937-11-07
WEAKNESS AT BRUSSELS
CONCEALS TRUE INTENT
Big Conference Will Lead to Well.Knit
Parleys Designed to Heal World
Sore Spots.

argues that the military clique in
Toxic is fully aware of the dangers
which threaten Japan In the event il
precipitates an international crisis.
But these official thoughts of the
State Department we have learned tc
discount. At one time our diplomats
were fully convinced that Mussolini
would yield as soon as the French and
the British sent him sharp note de.
manding withdrawal of his volunteers
from Spain. That note was dispatched
only three days before Mr.. Roosevelt's
speech of October S.
Thus, at the little conference"
peace will be discussed. But the leaves
OF the olive branch will necessarily
represent battleships and airplanes
mot to be used except in case Of ex-
treme emergency"
Toxic May Get Third Farley.
The third conference may take
place in Toxic. 1t will discuss Japan's
suggestion for peace by the complete
surrender Of Chang Kai-shek. Only
the nations interested in the Far East
will be present at this equally informal
parley. Neither Washington nor am
OF the other Western capitals wish
TO be accused of neglecting to explore
every conceivable field for a peaceful
solution of the Sino-Japanese conflict.
II Toxic invites these nations to such
parley-and everybody with an in
terest in China will be welcome-the
United States Government will be
quite willing to attend. But Wash
1ngton is determined not to allow the
japanese government to transform the
richest and most important part of
China into Japanese colony.
These are the three conferences
which will take place almost sinful
taneously. In all of these the United
States has stake-peace based on the
respect OF treaties and the mainte-
nance Of China's territorial integrity.
There is fourth conference in the
minds OF the European nations, how
ever. which. they hope, may spring out
OF the Brussels parley. That will seek
the liquidation of the existing prob
lens which endanger the peace of the
world.
During the last few weeks both
Hitler and Mussolini have shown a
stronger hand than usual. The oues-
tion of the former German colonies
has been brought to the fore almost
violently. In connection with the re-
quest that the League should be di- :.
vested of its control over the colonies
an academic control, since they are
inundated to France and Great Brit
aln-the two dictators have shown the
world what they might do. Czecho-
sloVakla has become the target of
violent attacks from the German press.
Mussoiini has sent troops to Libya.
There have been riots and rebellions
IN the French possessions in North
Africa and in Palestine. The French
and the British governments see the
hand OF Mussolini and Hitler in these
riots. There are substantiated runora
that an Italian force, under the flag
OF Gen. Franco, is preparing to occupy
the Island of Minorca, feebly held by
the Valencia government.
Mailed Fist in Evidence.
All these active manifestations of
would-be violence have one real pur-
pose-to bring home forcefullv to th,
British and the French the idea that
unless the claims of the authoritarian
states are satisfied they will either
nave to accept the terms of these
states or fight.
france and Great Britain hereto
fore have stubbornly rejected any re-
quest from Rome and Berlin to dis
cuss Germany's colonial problems. 1t
Is true that these demands have been
made automatically in the past and
with no actual threat. Now, it seems.
the dictators have learned that re-
quests may be more effective if pre-
ceded by mailed-fist attitude.
Washington believes there is a pos
sibllity that questions which the tvo
dlctators have brought to the atten-
ton of the British and French public
opinion with violence may conceivably
reach discussion while the Far East
ern question is being threshed oft.
Inc IDEA among the European diplo-
mats, on the other hand, is that they
may utilize the presence of an Amer
lean delegation to discuss matters
which, while not directly affecting
tnls country. might become interesting
II the whole war problem is likely to b.
settled thereby.
U. S. Mission Is Limited.
AT this time Mr.. Davis has very
oennite instructions regarding prob
lens which do not directly invo,vs
the United States. These instructions
are: Keep out of anything which has
no immediate repercussion on tha
Asiatlc question and China's integrity.
AS private individual Mr.. Davis NAV
discuss almost every conceivable ores-
tlon with Eden or Delbos or anv one
else. But as the head of the American
delegation to the Brussels conference
ne is not authorized even to listen In
anything outside of the very limited
scope of the mission with which he
and his colleagues have been intrusted
Furthermore, he has been told that
the Government of this country is not
disposed to accept any bargaining sug-
gestions from Great Britain and
France. No offer such as I'VE shall
help you out in the Far East If Won
Will DO something for us in Europe"
can even be considered. The nine
power pact has been signed by the
european nations. together with the
United States, Japan and China. The
administration intends to deal with
that treaty and its implications and
nothing else. N