Evening star., 1938-09-15

CnASeS Oh supplies
would doubtless be floated successfully
In America among private investors.
Direct loans between the Govern
ment here and foreign governments
are out Of the question and would not
arise unless America herself entered
the war some day.
: The impetus to trade and commerce
which would come out Of the purchase
Of war supplies would be reflected i'm
medistely in the prices of grains and
raw materials. Abandoned plants or
factories which have been on the bor-
der line between profit and loss would
suddenly come into production again
on = profitable scale.
All this is not reported in any sense
as . desirable or undesirable devel-
= sopment. but merely as an indication
Of what may be expected in an eco
nonnic sense. For the facts today are
somewhat the same as in l914-Europe
needs American munitions and the
materials that go into the making of
munitions. Whenever there is an in
creased demand for anything, prices
are apt to rise rapidly.
Not Subject to Attack.
Canada has large supply of gold
underground and no doubt arrange
inents will be made by the British
government to finance purchases with
the gold supply as a base 1t will be
recalled that President Roosevelt re-
Gently said in a public address that
America looked upon Cansda as
close friend and nation which could
not be attacked without raising issues
Of fundamental concern to the United
States Government. This speech will
be recalled again and again as Canada
becomes the base of operations for war
material distribution from the Western
Hemisphere.
Curiously enough. the officials of
the American Government do not yet
believe war Is coming. They feel that
the opportunities for peaceful solu-
ton Of the Czech dificulty have not
been exhausted. Certainly the de-
ctsion Of Prime Minister Chamberlain
to confer in person with Adolf Hitler
Il clear sign of how anxious the
democracies are to avoid war.
But even II the present controversy
Il patched up. the prospects of a
o. apprehension over the long-range
prospects.
Roosevelt Might Be Aided.
II war does come, say in 1899, 1t
may have profound effect on the
political situation. Thus the demand
for q third term for Mr.. Roosevelt in
1910 might possibly be strengthened
among those who want him to continue
in ONCE but who realize that other
wise the third term precedent would
Be = hard one to break Should war
be In progress in Europe, the argument
for the breaking Of the precedent
might be regarded as stronger.
Already the war situation acts as
. sort OF blanket over the domestic
events. While it is true President
Roosevelt has been occupied the last
few days with the personal problem
arising out Of the critical operation
performed on his son James, it is
significant that comment on the Mary
land primaries and Maine election was
more or less sidetracked by the Presi-
dent and his associates. 1t was an
nounced. for instance. that war de-
velopments were taking precedence
Mr.. Roosevelt decided to come to
Washington direct instead of going
to Hyde Park and this gave a war
tinge to the news of his movements
which helped to make people forget
the fact that in Maryland and Maine
the anti-New Deal strength was rising
perceptibly.
Should war begin in Europe this
autumn, the whole trend of the next
session Of Congress, which begins in
January, will be changed. Discussion
Of neutrality will be uppermost. That
Is why the circumstances under which
Britain and France make every effort
to maintain peace and transfer to
the shoulders of Mr. Hitler the re-
sponsibility for war will have pro-
found effect on American public opin-
ion and will do much toward directing
public sentiment when neutrality legis-
lation is discussed.
Copyright. 1889