Evening star., 1938-06-12

| Ierman diplomats, aware OF this Sltua-
ton. report to Berlin that because of
German Intervention in Latin American
affairs, there is likelihood that the United
| states will be more than sympathetic
toward France and Great Britain in the
event of another European conflagration
They blame British propaganda for this
change of heart, but admit frankly, that
somebody in Berlin or Rome has blundered
again in giving that propaganda ample
ammunition. This time the slogan will
| not be I'VE must make the world safe for
democracy" but We must keep the totali-
| tartan states cut of the Western Hemis-
phere."
Hull's Statement.
There are unmistakable signs that the
State Department. with Mr.. Roosevelts
consent. is making every. effort to inject
the United States into the struggle between
the totalitarian states and the remaining
European democracies.
On May %, on the eve of the second
municipal election in Czechoslovakia, Sec
retary Hull gave statement to the press
stressng the fact that the administration
considers the Kellogg pact still in existence
and effective, and that this country is
gravely concerned over any manifestation
which may disturb the peace of the world.
That the Secretary of State fshed out
of musty file in the State Department the
pact Of Paris which has been repeatedly
trampled on by the Italians and the Japa-
nese is OF little consequence But the timing
OF the press statement caused consterna-
tlon in Berlin and satisfaction in Paris and
IN London. Coming on the heels of the
unofficial warnings that America is dis
pleased with German and Italian activities
IN Latin America it had particular sig
nif1cance. 1t was taken to mean that the
pious. peace-saving formulae of the BRAND
Kellogg pact might be used by the WASH
lngton government to put spokes in Hitler's
chariot, which is ready to run over Czecho-
slovakia
Furthermore. the Secretarys statement
followed the announcement a few weeks
earlier that the United States fleet would
be transferred from the Pacific to the
Atlantic for war games. After many years
Of struggle the Navy Department succeeded
in convincing the President that the fleet
should be unified and stationed in one of
the two oceans. A divided fleet would be
too weak to inspire the necessary respect
abroad. But Fascist intrigues have worried
State Department official for months and
the President has been urged to detach a
part of the feet to the Atlantic in order
to assist if necessary, the naval forces of
the South American states to prevent the
smuggling of arms, ammunitions and "vol-
unteers" into Brazil and Chile
This request was strongly opposed by the
admirals, who held that the feet, to main
tain its striking power, must remain con-
centrated in the Pacific. Their stand was
bolstered by the tense situation created by
Japans invasion of China and the possible
aims of the japanese general staff toward
other non-Chinese territories in Asatic
waters.
Orders Given by Bloch
But the admirals agreed that if the Presi-
dent and the State Department wanted,
for political reasons. display of force in
the Atlantic the whole fleet might be
brought over Orders to that effect were
given three weeks ago to the commander
in chief, Admiral Claude Bloch.
While the State and Navy Departments
say unofficially that next years war games
in the Atlantic will serve the purpose of
acquainting the Navy personnel with the
regions around the Equator, the German
and Italian governments feel the 1869 Amer
ican warships will parade in the Atlantic
principally for their benefit. That while
the fleet is not supposed to leave it's Pacific
bases before late fall or early winter, there
is possibility that It might be brought
over sooner. This theory is connected with
the large orders for airplanes and anti
aircraft guns which France and Great
Britain are placing in this country.
The diplomats of the two totalitarian
states see the old game, under new sign,
played over again. The American people,
they say, will be fed on propaganda that
Latin America Is being threatened by a
mythical German-Itsli lian invasion. Hun
dreds of millions Of dollars will be spent
in this country by the Paris and London
governments for war materials they can
not manufacture in their own countries.
These orders will be paid for in cash at
first, later when the manufacturers have
spent money to increase their plants to
cope with the rush orders some way will
be found to obtain merchandise for credit
despite the johnson Act.
A combination of aroused popular feel
ing against the aims Of the dictators in
Latin America. together with the finan-
cial interests of the American manufac-
turers, will ultimately force the United
States to side with the European democ-
racies.
These reports from Washington are be-
lieved to be responsible for slowing Gcwn
Hitler's program in Czechoslovakia. OF
course this does not mean that Hitler will
abandon his aims toward Czechoslovakia.
He still believes that the sentiment ',r
peace in this country is 4strong enough
to prevent actual cooperation between
the United States and Western Europe.
(Copyrirht 1Aae)