The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-10-26
(By Staff Writer)

situation IN WaSnllSto1l
can only be described as one OF
running around in circles.
There are more amateur proph-
cts on the job than ever before,
most of them predicting dire
things ahead for this country un-
less we adopt courses of policy
which are in total disagreement
with each other.
There is more confused think
ing finding expression in and out
of Congress and official circles
than the oldest observer of affairs
in the National Capitol can re-
member since before the war
with Spain.
There is only one point upon
which everybody is in substan-
tial agreement. That is that this
country must keep out of the
war.
Nobody here believes, as some
seemed to think a few weeks ago,
that there are Americans in high
place who would plunge the ma
ton into war for the sake of
their own personal glory or poll
teal futures.
But the fear that events may
make it a matter of self-preser-
walton for the United States to
take a hand is definitely increas-
ing.
To Aid Allies
There is no longer any attempt
to conceal the fact that the pur-
pose behind the efforts to amend
the neutrality law is to enable
this country to give aid to the
Allies against Hitler. That is not
entirely because of especial
friendliness for the British and
the French people, but arises
the growing belief that Germany
is getting the best of the strug-
gle, so far and that if Germany
wins a victory over the Allies our
turn will come next.
Talk of victory is, Of course,
premature, but the events of the
first few weeks of the war. with
the tremendous loss of British
shipping and especially the tor
pedoing of two capital ships, a
battleship and an aircraft carrier.
have aroused much anxiety as to
Britain's ability to retain control
of the seas and maintain the
blockade of the Baltic.
If the British cannot maintain
the "life-line of the Empire" and
protect their outlying colonies
and doninions, from Canada to
Australia, the prophets here are
envisioning the gradual nibbling
away by Germany Of one outpost
after another and the eventual
seizure of territory on the Ameri-
can continent.
This defeatist attitude in re-
spect of the Allied Powers may
account for many otherwise in
explicable acts and utterances in
official Washington. Nobody can
tell you what the final form of
the amendments to the neutrali-
ty laws will be, but it is certain
that it will reflect the best judg-
ment Of Congress and the White
House as to how we can keep out
of the war and still help our
friends.
Two unofficial advisers have Of
fered suggestions as to the best
way to revise the arms embargo.
Both are men who are generally
listened to by the public and by
men in office with a considerable
degree of respect They are Her.
bert Hoover and Col. Charles A.
Lindbergh.
Both Mr.. Hoover and Col. Lind
bergh, in radio addresses to
which millions listened, have re-
commended the lifting Of the en-
barge on defensive" weapons,
but retaining it on "offensive"
weapons. Both class bombing
planes and their death-dealing
eggs" as "offensive" arms, but
regard such things as pursuit
planes and anti-aircraft guns as
purely defensive" The distinc-
ton is a close one, and it may
safely be said that little attention
will be given to it in the final act
of Congress.
Appeal To Canadians
Great attention, however, has
been given, both here and abroad,
to the further suggestion of Col.
Llndbergh, that the safety of the
United States is imperilled by he
participation of Canada in the
war. What amounted to an ap-
peal to Canadians to further re-
assert their independence in their
lot wholly with the rest of the
American nations, so as not to in |
volve any part of this continent
in the war was badly received in /
ConoGo orI Crook br;4o;xo o-I1 !