Milford chronicle., 1938-04-08
ECONOMIC HIGHLICHTS
HAPPENINGS THAT AFFECT THE DINNER
PALS, DIVIDEND CHECKS AND TAX
BILLS oE EVERY INDIVIDUAL
National and International Probleps
IHSfParabie from Local Wflfa5e

During the week following Anthony
Eden'S resignation. the writer of this
column read scores of editorials and
articles published in the foreign and
domestic press regarding the Cham
berlain policy of cooperation and
conciliatiOn with the fascist powers,
especially Italy. From this reading.
one highly significant fact emerged.
In Germany and Italy. of the big
countries, the Chamberlain govern
ment was highly praised, and the
retirement of Eden greeted with
hurrahs. In the democratic coun-
tries, to the contrary, the British
cabinet was viewed with bewildeT-
ment. alarm and fear That is par
ticularly true of France. which has
been placed in a difficult position
Frances old-time ally has been Eng
land, which she counted on to work
with her in holding the relationships
in place. and now it seems that the
British lion is no longer ready 10
roar on behalf of the tri-coloT. And
it is also true of the United States.
With few exceptions. the principal
newspapers and leading cOmmenta-
tors think that with Eden's going
went the last hope for maintaining
and extending the old ideas of demo-
cratic freedom abroad. Also of great
importance is the fact that some of
the British periodicals and publicists
have denounced Chamberlain in
terms rarely applied to a Prime
Minister.
So far as the United States is con-
cerned. the new policy of English
toward the fascists--
which Lord Cranborne. former
British undersecretary for foreign
who resigned with Eden.
characterized as mot a contribution
to peace. but a surrender to black
mail'-has apparently completely
blasted all chances of an American |
English alliance, whereby the two
nations would work together to pre-
serve the peace of the world by pre-
senting a united front to possible |
More important, as
Dorothy Thompson recently wrote. !
it has created a potentially grave |
problem from the standpoint of our |
interests in South America.
Briefly decribed. that problem is |
this: Germany. Italy and Japan, un-
der the Rome-Berlin-Tokio Axis |
agreement. are pledged TO aid each |
other, tacitly if not actively, in terri
torial expansion. These powers are |
eager to get for themselves the trade |
and resources of the greatest little
exploited continent ON earth, South !
America Britain, whose export
markets are declining. is also look
ing toward the western hemisphere.
There is an excellent chance that
Britain will come to the conclusion
hat il is TO her economic self-inter-
sst to work with the relationships
n expanding their influence, trade
md possessions in the South. Miss
Thompson puts it bluntly, in these
words: would Britain not, in effect,
le under both a military and econom-
C cOmpulsion to follow, not the pol
cy of the United States in South
America. but that of Italy, Germany
md JapanT' In brief, will Britain
jeek for future allies, not the demo-
.racies, France and the United States,
Dut the totalitarian governments. on
he theory that this will give her the
,est chance TO preserve her EN-
lire?
Little has been heard of this as
Tet-mueh will be heard in the fu-
ure. For there seems TO be an ex-
.ellent chance that we will have to
;hange our ideas toward Britain.
even those Americans who have not
to AnglOphobia, have re-
;arded England as a natural and inc
'itable ally of the U. S. and France
N any difficulty, have taken for
granted the pride and power of John
BULL, and have more or less thought :
hat the cause of European democ-
acy was safe SO long as the Empire
asted. But now the belief is spread
ng that England is really little in
crested in ideals, and is pursuing a
Iolicy Of temporary advantage, in an
fort TO stave off a day of reckon
ng between democracy and fascism.
/ few commentators take the view
hat England is definitely done as a
rst-rate power. Thus, Oswald Gar
ison Willard, following a long sum
nary of recent events and their pre-
eding causes, says: Where does
his leave England? Why, reduced
D third-rate power in the world.
by Italy in Spain and the