Evening star., 1939-06-18

"Icll eUIIlc IIlOillflS dRO, IL Was QSu-
cately suggested to the American Gov
ernment by London that his majesty,
King George VI, would be pleased to
visit these United States while in North
America, the prospect was met in WASH
ington with mixed emotions.
The attitude of American officials
toward the British monarch and his
charming Queen personally was surely
one of gracious goodwill There were,
too, obvious political benefits to be de-
rived from the visit, in so far as it pro-
NOTED the worlds impression of Anglo
American friendship. But, at the same
time, there was lurking fear in the
reception might cause an outburst from
isolationists on Capitol Hill who would
raise the cry of "entangling alliances
and profess to see deep plot against
Americas independence in world affairs.
But, now that their Britannia ajesties
have come and gone, State Department
officials are resting easier The few out
cries from last-dtch isolationists were
drowned in the chorus of popular &C
claim and in the warm reception given
the royal pair by the American public
And, looking abroad, observers have
every reason to believe that the visit has
emphasized the close solidarity of the
two English-speaking democratic powers
in the minds of those who are following
aggressive policies in Europe and the
Far East.
Distortion OF Facts Cited.
Indeed the extent to which some of
the newspapers of the Fascist bloc" went
in distorting facts in connection with
the Kings reception here for instance,
the preposterous story of Mrs. Roose-
velt's alleged quarrel with her mother
in-law while the King and Queen were
at Hyde Park mphasized-perhaps too
much - their fear of Anglo-American
rapprochement.
This is quietly gratifying to American
officials For, while the administration
has never even considered an alliance
with Great Britain or France, President
Roosevelt and the State Department
have clearly indicated on a number of
occasions that the moral and economic
support of the United States will be
found behind the democracies if they
are forced into war by the aggressive
policies of other countries.
If the thesis is accepted-as it is by
many diplomats-that President Roose-
velts letter to Adolf Hitler and Benito
Mussolini at the time of the Polish-Ger-
man crisis last spring averted war then,
the popular manifestation of British
American friendship last week becomes
doubly significant.
Reports have been reaching Washsing-
ton from American observers in Europe
for the last few weeks that war has not
gust or early September, after the crops
have been garnered, is set as the time
for the next crisis, which is expected to
result from renewed German demands
for Danzig. combined. probably, with
revival of Mussolinis demands for
Tunis and Jibuti.
Emphasis Is Probable Role.
Will the strengthened conviction of
the democracies of Europe will have
Americas economic support if they are
forced into war convince them that
the hazards of battle are too dangerous?
The question cannot be answered with
any certainty. But the Kings visit, &C
cording to reaction from Europe, has
served to impress Americas probable
role in new world conflict on the minds
OF those who can promote or prevent it.
Hand in hand with-though not di-
rectly related to-his majestys American
reception as a possible deterrent to war
late this summer has gone the admins
tration's effort to revise the Neutrality
Act so that it will not prevent the ship
ment of war supplies to the former
Allies on cash and carry" basis.
The administration rather sudden de-
cison to insist on amendment of the act
now rather than waiting until the con-
vening of the new Congress was influ-
enced largely by the prospect of another
crisis in August. Officials here firmly
believe (although, naturally, they do not
say so publicly that the most effective
way in which the United States can
help preserve peace is by letting Ger
many and Italy know that the vast re-
sources of Americas markets will be
open to the democracies If they are
forced into war to prevent further ag-
gression in Europe.
In the revised Neutrality Act there, Of
course, would be no difference In the
right of any European nation to purchase
goods here in wartime. But it seems OBJ
vious that the democratic bloc, because
of its great preponderance in naval
power, would control the seas as 1t did
in 1914-1918, and thus would be able to
send its own merchant vessels here while
making the transatlantic trip very haz-,
ardous for merchantmen of enemies.
Hence, in practical effect, the proposed
revision of the Neutrality Act would work
out to the advantage of Great Britain
and France.
Evidences Of Anglo-American solidar-
ity also may have some psychological
effect in the Var East ofncia1s i,oy,A ~.