Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-22

World Situation Today Follows
Lines of Europe's 80 Years War
Drift of u. S. Policies Is Watched With Concern
as Dictatorships Thrive and Conflict,
Started in 1914, Goes On.

not hard at work. Nothing sensational will
happen there in the immediate future
Germany and Italy must finish building
up their fences in the old world. But in
formation is percolating through various
channels that their men are at work diff
fusing dictatorial ideas and finding willing
listeners. They implement their activities
by providing arms and ammunition for
any eventual necessity. Not single cargo
arrives from German and Italian ports
which does not unload at least a few cases
of electrical machinery" or farm imple-
ments" which unpack as war materiel.
Nobody believes that the two dictator
ships intend to duplicate in any Of the
South American republics Italy's conquest
OF Ethiopia or Germany's absorption OF
Austria. They merely want to convert the
South American politicos to the belief that
their future lies in the adoption Of the
totalitarian form Of government-which
cannot be set up in Latin America without
violence and profuse bloodshed.
It is for this reason that the administra-
ton is seriously contemplating shifting
the fleet-the first line of defense OF the
United States-from the Pacific to the
Atlantic ocean. President Roosevelt Sec
rotary Hull and their intimate advisers are
convinced that the principles of the Monroe
doctrine must be maintained regardless Of
cost and consequences to the peace Of this
country.
Without the strong support OF the United
States the Central and South American
republics would fall easily into the laps
Of the advocates Of totalitarianism. Mod
ern sm-democracy-is strongly
intrenched in the minds Of the people OF
the southern continent, but factional
wrangles among its advocates offer weak
resistance to the admirably organized forces
of the absolutists.
In Europe one by one the various states
are following the dictators. Except for
France, Great Britain. Switzerland, the
Nordic kingdoms, Belgium, Holland and
some of the republics which before the
war were a part Of Russia, all the other
countries are. willingly or otherwise. IN
the tow of Germany and Italy. Even IN
the democratic nations there are strong
advocates of the totalitarian state idea.
Many serious minded people point to Ger
MANY and Italy as examples Of how to
solve the unemployment problem. They
cite the case Of Germany, where before
1893 there were close to 10000 unem-
ployed and today there are none. Italy
shows a similar situation Of unemploy-
ment control.
These political thinkers remark that
Great Britain and France. with an enor-
NOUS amount OF gold at their command
and with unlimited access to raw materials,
are far behind Germany and Italy IN the
construction of their military AVIATION
the most important weapon in modern war
fare.
Because Europe is no longer divided into
nations liking or hating each other, but
into groups of individuals fighting each
other because they are espousing different
doctrines, the parallel between the 80 Years
War and the present situation is sharply
accented.
It has come to the point, observers be-
lieve, when there will be no more old
fashioned declarations of war; there will no
longer be even national armies after Few
months of regular combat. There will only
be groups fighting each other because OF
their belief in one doctrine or the other.
The war in Spain is the best Illustration OF
this theory. There are Germans and 1tal-
ians, with a sprinkling of Poles. Americans
and even French, in the ranks OF Gen.
Frances forces. There is an American
brigade, British contingent. an Irish con-
tingent and a mixture Of Poles, French.
Germans, Italians, Rumanians. and what
have you in the ranks of the Loyalist forces.
They are not fighting for Spain; in fact.
they don't care a rap about SPANS indie
pendence. They are fighting for the totali-
tartan idea or for the democratic ideal with
a fierceness and bitterness which ordinary
wars of conquest have not developed In the
past.
Ewes Turned on United States.
Great Britain and France realize what
Is coming: hence military agreement far
more important and conclusive than the
entente which brought Great Britain into
the World War. And the eyes Of the two
governments representing the old order are
turned toward the United States. They are
warily feeling their way to find out how far
this country might support them in the
inevitable showdown.
Since 1919 only minor war forces, COM
parable to the small bands of the predatory
armies of the 18th century, have come to
grips. The main body, represented by the
forces Of the four principal European pow
ers, is hiding its time, but must inevitably
follow suit.
It IS for this reason that there is grave
concern regarding the drift Of Americas
foreign policies. It Is because Of this fear
that our national forces, unless the leaders
in washington are extremely cautious, may
become involved in this perennial war
which started in 1914 and which will end
nobody knows when.
tCopyright 1889
H1osn H.. uoo, DJo~~