Evening star., 1938-01-23

oIS dIlu L eOple.
Great Britain has more to lose from
the present tmbroglio than any other
power. Within the next few weeks Canton
the life nerve Of her Hong Kong colony
and her enormous investments In China.
Will be japanese. The blows to her prestige
at the hands Of the Toxic government have
had important repercussions In India. The
Central and the Near East are listening
sympathetically to Mussolini's voice, which
comes to the Arabs over the Bari radio
station. Show Of force plays an important
role in the life Of the Arabs and they see
mighty Mussolini prancing on a white
charger and modest Anthony Eden sip
ping tea on the terrace Of a Monte Carlo
hotel.
The British government has become
aware OF the dangers with which it Is con-
fronted. Until few months ago it wished
Uncle Sam to pull the ehestnuts out of the
fire. Now 1t is willing to Cooperate on
condition that the Americans make the
first move.
The Singapore naval base will be inau.
gurated in February. Three American
light cruisers-vessels without striking
power-will participate In the festivities.
What type, and how many, British msn.of.
war will be there depends entirely on the
Japanese attitude toward Great Britain
at that time.
Currently there are friendly conversa.
tions regarding the international situation
between London and Washington. Blockades
and embargoes are being discussed with.
out either of the two powers making den.
mite commitments.
Alternative Policies Weixhed,
1t Is not the fate Of the 5000 Americans
in the Far East or their investments which
furrow Mr.. Roosevelt's brow. He Is weiph-
Ing the alternative policies which face u.
Should America shut herself within the
confines OF her territory and dwell in
splendid isolation, or should we throw
our weight into the gigantic clash between
the totalitarian state idea and the sttI
prevailing democratic ideal?
Mr.. Roosevelt and many Of his adv,sers
believe IN striking while there l. still
time-before the totalitarian states Or
ganize their own world at the expense of
tne American producer. The Fascist con-
ception OF international trade-on the bar
Ter oasis-is fundamentally opposed to the
American conception. The former must
necessarily result in lowering Of national
standards Of living, while the latter strivea
to raise them by giving the working classes
shorter hours and better pay.
The American Government feels that .
"laissez faire" policy now will, within leas
than generation, have fatal results ON the
Wen-oeing Of the people Of this country.
Inc theory that the totalitarian states
Will revert eventually to our philosonhv
Is discredited in many official quarters,
There has been a good deal Of talk from
experts that Italy. Germany and japan.
lacking raw materials and gold, will have to
surrender in the present rearmament rsoe.
80 lar this reasoning has proved fallacious.
Rearmament Pushed.
Despite their heavy handicaps the thr1e
nations are pushing their rearmament pro-
gram as II they owned all the gold and raw
materials in the world Mussolini Hitler
and the Toxic government have taken up
the naval race almost cheerfully. They
are building battleships and cruisers AZ
last as their perfectly equipped navy yards
can produce them.
Ihere Is no sound reason to believe that
they will not continue their new policies
In other fields after they have digested all
tney intend to swallow. And with thu
completion OF their political and territorial
conquests, they will set themselves to the
task, 10 our leaders believe, Of controlline
international trade and policies In q world
OF their own creation.
The question now before our Govern.
ment Is: Are We going to act while oon.
certed action Is possible or are We eoina
70 maintain passive attitude-conduct
a costly lone-wof rearmament race-for
a day when we may be helpless aRsinst
massed powers?"
Mr.. Roosevelt is watching two things: !:
ihe progress Of the relationships and that
lmponderable quantity with which every
democracy must reckon-public opinion
Wnat actions he may take depends On
tnese two factors He is confident that he
can curb the totalitarians with the offen-
SaVe means at his disposal But he Also
realizes that American public opinion has
net yet s,asped the issues at stake in the
conflict between the two political theor1..
now confronting each other.
~ sSndissteSS di SS0o'of' "s~pADsr