The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1939-08-03
ECONOMIC H1GHL1GHTs

ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS
The Presidents statement that
congress refusal to repeal the neu-
trality act and to pass an Admin
istration-sponsored bill permitting
the sale of ornaments to belliger-
ents on the cash-and-carry basis, is
q disservice to the cause OF world
peace found little favorable reaction
in either House or Senate. save
among those to whom White House
proclamations are almost sacred.
Apparently congress feels that the
next world war" is not so imminent
as many think. At the White House
conference on nuetrality, Senator
Borah, rock-ribbed isolationist who
did as much as anyone to prevent
the United States from joining the
League of Nations and the World
Court, bluntly told Secretary Hull
that he had confidential sources Of
information regarding affairs from
abroad that told him there would
be no war this year-and that he
regarded his sources as being as
trustworthy or more so than those
ON which the State Department de-
ponds.
At any rate, Congress, going by
the recent statements and votes Of
the majority, seems convinced that
1t would be folly to give the Presi-
dent as much leeway in handling
our foreign policy as he wants. And
it likewise seems to be convinced
that the only sane course for Ameri-
ca to pursue is to remain 100 per-
cent Mcfarland at the same time
to indirectly discourage hostilities
80 far as It can.
Now 1t is obvious that this IS q
very difficult course for world
power to maintain. And good
many congressman are puzzling
over Just how It may be done. The
undeclared war in the Orient pro-
vides an interesting case in point.
theoretically, we are neutral. Ac-
tually, as authoritative public opin-
ion polls have established, the Am
erican people are overwhelmingly
in sympathy with the invaded
Chinese, and overwhelmingly op-
posed to the ambitions of the in
vading japanese. It is practically a
certainty that, If Japan does con-
quer China, the "open door" will be
slammed shut In the faces of all
other nations, with the possible ex-
ceptions of Nippon's axis allies, Ger
many and Italy. That Is direct and
dire threat to American investments
in China running into the billions,
and even to the physical safety Of
the thousands of Americans who
live in the Far East. And, to top
It off, this government, along with
Japan and other major powers, is
q party to long established treaty
guaranteeing the sovereignty, the
Independence and the territorial
and administrative integrity Of
China"
Those are splendid words, and the
motive Of this country at least in
signing the treaty was undoubtedly
honest. Yet in this curious world
we live in, the United States plays
p major part in making Japan's
Eastern adventure possible and II
the troops of the Son of Heaven are
successful, we will have to take
major part of the blame, at least in
directly. For, says the Chinese
Council for Economic Research, ia.
pan gets better than 80 percent Of
her imported scrap iron, steel ane
copper from US, along with almos
half OF her imported lead, IS per
cent Of her imported automobiles
a percent of her imported air
planes, 65 percent Of her imported
petroleum and SO percent Of her i'm
ported ferro-alloys. Each OF thes
is q vital war material. Japan Cal
produce or manufacture none Q
them in adequate Quantity for her
self. She must get them froa
abroad-and if she couldn't e
them the prosecution Of the mde
-clared war with China would be i'm
possible.
It IS this which caused the 6ena1
resolution calling for an embare
on export of arms and other mater
ials of war to Japan. Whether TIL
will be done. at this congress or