Evening star., 1939-07-03

Frederic William Vile, "WdSk-
tngton Observations" are being
1Urttten by Henry L. SiDeinhdrt)
No more appropriate time could
have been arranged for Congress to
take short recess than this Fourth
OF July period. 1t will be cooling
off" interval from the heated de-
bate to which the legislators on both
sides OF the Capitol have been sub
jected during the last few weeks
and which came to it's perfervid ch-
max IN the closing hours of last Fri
day and the early hours of Saturday
morning. This breathing spell"-
with many Of the members at the
seashore listening to what the wild
waves are saying" and with others
enjoying the cool mountain breezes
will restore tangled nerves and
bring them back to Washington pre-
pared to continue their important
remaining labOrs. In addition to
rest and recreation, this will be a
period for patriotic thinking. Many
OF the members doubtless will par
ticipate in Fourth of July celebra-
tlons in various parts of the coun-
try, either as speakers or otherwise
Their thoughts will be centered on
problems connected with the day,
dealing with the welfare of the
United States, whose independence
was proclaimed 1853 years ago and
with the relation of this country to
the general welfare of the family
of nations, of which it is a part.
Congress will return from this short
holiday vacation with fresh zeal for
its patriotic tasks.
Foreign Interest Great.
Foreign interest in what the
United States is doing and in what
it is planning to do, has never been
greater than at the present time.
The governments of other nations,
both through their diplomatic repre-
sentatives here and through other
channels, are maintaining a close
and constant watch on every move
and every development here which
may affect in any way, directly or
indirectly, world movements. Po-
htical and popular trends in this
country which may have bearing
on international currents of thought
are reported promptly to the foreign
offices of nations all over the world.
These reports are supplemented by
careful scrutiny of the newspapers
of this country for indicated changes
OF editorial or public opinion on
various subjects. Never before have
the embassies and legations in
Washington kept in such close and
intimate contact with every source
Of information from which they may
CLEAN light on matters in which
they think their respective govern
ments might be interested. No sub
ject Of recent debate in the United
States has been of deeper concern
to them than that on the neutrality
legislation now pending in Congress
They realize fully the almost trans
cendent significance of this legisla-
ton and the important part it is
likely to play in world affairs; and
so, many of them have been
putting it at the head of the list on
their agenda Of happenings here to
be watched
State Department Informed.
AS State Department and other
officials here cast their eyes over the
international horizon, they see
threatening situations which fill
them with doubt as to the ultimate
outcome. On all sides it is frankly
admitted that the prevailing con-
dition is serious, but they decline to
make any predictions as to what
they think may happen With Eu-
rope and the Far East as the two
points on which they are concen-
trating their most serious thought
they are handling all problems re-
lated to those areas with most deli
cate diplomacy and care so as to add
no iota of further complication to
the existing difficulties. In fact
they are attempting, as far as pos
sible, to find ways, through diplo-
matte advice or otherwise, to aid in
resolving some of the dangers and