The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1938-03-10

The Courier, est. March ~, 100.
Entered a Second Glass matter.
ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
During the week following Anth-
ony Eden's resignation, the writer Of
this column read scores of editor
ials and articles published in the
foreign and domestic press regard
ing the Chamberlain policy Of COOP
Grafton and Cancellation with the
fascist powers. especially Italy.
From this reading. one highly sig
nificant fact emerged. In Germany
and Italy, Of the big countries. the
Chamberlain government was high
ly praised, and the retirement of
Eden greeted with huzzahs. In the
democratic countries, to the con-
trary, the British cabinet change
was viewed with bewilderment,
alarm and fear. That Is particular
ly true Of France, which has been
placed in q difficult position
Frances old-time ally has been Eng
land. which she counted on to work
with her in holding the dictator
ships In place and now 1t seems that
the British lion is no longer ready to
roar on behalf Of the tri-color. And
It Is also true Of the United States.
With few exceptions, the principal
newspapers and leading commenta-
tors think that with Edens going
went the last hope for maintaining
and extending the old ideas of DEM
ocratic freedom abroad. Also Of
great Importance Is the fact that
some Of the British periodicals and
publicists have denounced Cham
berlain In terms rarely applied to q
Prime Minister.
SO far as the United States is
concerned, the new policy Of Eng
lsh friendliness toward the fascists
which Lord Cranborne, former
British undersecretary for foreign
affairs, who resigned with Eden.
characterized as mot contribution
to peace. but 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 united front to possible be-
ngerants. More important, as
Dorothy Thompson recently wrote,
It has created q potentially grave
problem from the standpoint Of our
interests In South America.
Briefly described, that problem is
this: Germany, Italy and Japan,
under the Rome Berlin Toxic Axis
agreement, are pledged to aid each
other. tacitly II not actively, In ter
Titorial expansion. These powers
are eager to get for themselves the
trade and resources Of the greatest
Nttle-exploited continent on earth,
South America. Britain, whose ex-
port markets are declining, Is also
looking toward the western hemi-
sphere. There Is an excellent
chance that Britain will come to the
conclusion that 1t Is to her econom-
&c and self-interest to work with the
relationships In expanding their In
fluence. trade and possessions in the
south. Miss Thompson puts 1t
bluntly, in these words: would
Britain not In effect. be under both
q military and economic compulsion
to follow, not the policy of the
United States In South America, but
that of Italy, Germany and Japan?"
In brief, will Britain seek for flu
ture allies, not the democracies,
Frances and the United States, but
the totalitarian governments, on the
theory that this will give her the
best chance to preserve her en-
pire?
Little has been heard Of this as
yet-much will be heard in the
future. For there seems to be an
excellent chance that we will have
to change our ideas toward Britain.
Even those Americans who have not
succumbed to Angolophobia, have
regarded England as a natural and
Inevitable ally of the U. s. and
France in any difficulty, have taken
for granted the pride and power Of.
John Bull, and have more or less
thought that the cause of European
democracy was safe SO long as the
Empire lasted. But now the belief
IS spreading that England is really
little interested in ideals. and is pur-
suing policy of temporary advant-
age, in an effort to Stave off day
of reckoning between democracy
and fascism. A few commentators
take the view that England is def
anitely done as first-rate power.
Thus, Oswald Garrison Willard, fol-
lowing long summary of recent
events and their preceding causes,
says: where does this leave Eng
land? Why, reduced to a third
rate power in the world. Humbled
by Italy in Spain and the Mediter-
annean, by Hitler in the Rhineland,