Evening star., 1938-12-17

The Tightening restrictions on
Jews in Italy drew the attention
today of the State Department,
which disclosed the Embassy in
Rome has instructions to make new
representations if rights of Ameri-
can citizens are involved.
The Italian cabinet yesterday or
dered Jews to exchange all their
land and buildings exceeding a fixed
value for bonds bearing per cent
interest.
Pending an Embassy report on
how the decree was to be interpreted
the department reserved comment.
1t was made clear, however, that
II it is to be imposed against Amer
ican citizens there will be a protest
such as went to Germany this week
against any discrimination against
Americans because of their race or
creed.
Treaty Violation Claimed.
In the case of Germany, the State
Department has insisted that this
action violates the treaty of friend
ship and commerce with that coun-
try. No such treaty can be invoked
against Italy, however, inasmuch
as the old treaty of commerce and
navigation Of 1871 has been re-
voked, and no new treaty has been
arranged.
However, the United States only
two months ago, after passage of
an earlier decree, pointedly told Italy
there are no restrictions on italians
who have been properly admitted
into the United States.
The repeated recent reminders to
Germany, Japan and Italy that they
are imposing restrictions on Ameri-
can citizens which are not imposed
on their nationals in this country
has aroused some speculation that
retaliatory measures are possible
Ofncials have kept silent, however,
on whether such step is contem-
plated.
Kennedy Thinks War Near.
Joseph P. Kennedy, United States
Ambassador to London, paid a fly
ing visit here yesterday to report to
President Roosevelt that he thinks
the possibility of war in Europe
within few months is very great.
He brought pessimistic view OF
political developments there to the
White House and to State Depart
ment officials whom he saw during
busy eight-hour stay here. Swift
moving developments centering
around Germany were uppermost in
his mind.
Mr.. Kennedy returned from Lon
don Thursday for his second visit
since going abroad less than a year
ago. He came here by plane yes
terday morning and flew back last
night to New York, where he will
leave tomorrow for a six-week vaca-
ton in Palm Beach, Fla. The AM
bassador smilingly denied reports
that he would resign and said he
would return to his post in February
"unles something happened before
then"
MI. Kennedy, who was in daily
and some times hourly contact with
British leaders throughout the Sep
tember crisis over Czecho- -Slovakia
indicated recent events had changed
his mind about the prospects OF
peace.
Last summer I predicted there
would be no war in Europe. Well
I'm going out of the prophet bust
ness on December 81" he saio
grimly.
He did not discuss in detail what
he told the President. who during
the past month has mad persona
talks with most of his key ambas.
sadors in Europe. Mr.. Roosevelt's
survey of foreign affairs has beer
further rounded out by a half-houl
conversation here this week with
Anthony Eden, former British for.
eign minister. Another Ambassador
Nelson T. johnson, now is on hi.
way home from China in response
to presidential summons to report
on developments in the Far East.
Acting Secretary of State Sumner
Welles conferred for about half ar
hour with the President yesterday
and Mr.. Welles later declined tc
comment. William c. Bulntt, Am
bassador to France, entered the
presidential study for talk as Mr.
K