The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-11-09
(Bv Staff Writer)

tangible result of the clearing
away of the question of whether
the manufacturers OF the Onlteo
States may make and sell mill
tary weapons and supplies Will
be the release from Government
tai restrictions of almost $8O,OOO,-
600 worth of war orders already
in the hands of makers OF air.
planes and other munitions.
Great Britain has ordered from
the makers in this country near
ly $l5,O0O,OO of planes, France al
most three times as many, ana
there are orders in hand for $o,-
100000 of planes from Australia
Canada and other nations, to say
nothing of numerous small orders
for rifles and ammunition.
It is known to the State ana
War Departments that hundreds
of millions of further war orders
from the Allies are ready to be
given, the moment the President
signs the new Neutrality law.
That these war orders will start a
boom of business in many lines
is not to be doubted, but how far
it will be reflected in other lines
of business apart from munitions
on one ventures to predict. 1t
will put a good many thousand
men back on payrolls, however,
and so increase the purchasing
power of themselves and their
families for all sorts of commo-
dities.
Boom May Be Limited
How long this boom will last
depends upon how long the war
lasts; and there are astute OBJ
servers in Washington, close to
the State Department, who are
predicting that the war will not
last very long. These prophets
base their belief upon the as
sumption that Germany will be
forced by the pressure OF world
opinion to yield to the demand
that Hitler and his immediate cir
Gle will be thrown out. In that
case there would be a possibility
of mediation by some powerful
neutral nation, such as the United
States, looking toward a peace
which would be just to all parties
concerned.
Such peace cannot be nego-
tiated with a government which,
like Hitler's has demonstrated its
untrustworthiness but it is I'M
derstood here that the new Brl-
fish Ambassador, the Marques OF
Lothian, has assured the Presi-
dent that his government would
be only too glad to avert the sac
rifice and lives and wealth which
a prolonged war would involve
if a satisfactory settlement could
be arranged with a government
which the British government
could trust.
Such a message is considered
here as tantarnount to an invita-
ton to President Roosevelt to De
the mediator of the European
quarrel. He could hardly offer
his services, but it is considered
possible that ne might accept that
role if a formal invitation came
from both sides, from responsible
Governments. In that case he
would be following the example
of his illustrious namesake and
predecessor, "Teddy," who ne
ootiated the Peace of Ports
mouth between Russia and Japan
in 1905.
While some who are close to
the European situation ridicule
the idea that any external pres
sure can force Hitler to relln-
uuish his leadership, others who
are equally informed point out
that the Fuehrer has not the con-
fidence or the unquestioning sup
port of the German Army, and
that another Army revolution
such as that which drove the
Kaiser into exile is not impos-
sible.
Pure speculation
Much of that is pure specula-
ton, but it is worth noting as in
dicating that there is no certain
ty that the rush of war orders al
ready beginning will continue
long enough to start anything
like a business boom. There is a
better chance, many observers
here believe, that as result of
all the discussion of the position
of the United States with rela-
ton to the rest of the world, the
next session of Congress may be-
gin appropriating enough money
to provide our own army and ma
wy with necessary arms and sup
plies.
It is taken as settled question
I@f@ II