Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-06-09

OF the King and ~
Queen of Great ''''o'-''S
Britain is just a David Lawrence.
casual affair, related somehow to
the fact that the monarchs were
planning to visit one of their do
minions, Canada, and happened to
be nearby. Once the distinguished
visitors are gone, once few pleas
ant and sentimental exchanges of
greeting and official entertainments
have been given, the incident passes
into history.
But to Europe, the picture is en-
tirely different. The European hab-
1t has been to use visits of kings
and prime ministers for a specific
purpose-to convey an impression
of close friendship, if not alliance.
The British and American spokes-
men may use up all the words in
their political yocabularies to deny
that anything in the way of an
entente or international agreement
is intended. and they would be lit
orally telling the truth, but the
continental observers read into
visit like that of the British mon
archs something far more tram
scendent and far more significant
than a mere exchange of words or
speeches, however generally or alb
stractedly phrased they may be.
Not Passing Episode.
The mere fact that the King and
Queen of Great Britain come to the
city of Washington and stay at the
White House is as sensational piece
of diplomacy and has as far reach
ing an effect on public opinion
abroad as when the President of
the United States visited England
and France on the eve of the peace
negotiations at Paris. 1t is not
just passing episode in history. 1t
is a part of the whole international
situation as it relates to peace.
For, no matter how strongly the
average American insists upon "iso-
lation,' and this sentiment is prob
ably more firmly implanted today
than ever, the European mind is in
the habit of balancing off nations
and powers. 1t is not the i'm
mediate quarrel or friction which
causes this appraisal to be made,
nor even the assurance that Ameri-
ca would stay out of a world war
for two or even three years. 1t is
where America would find herself
in a final showdown of strength in
long-draWn-out war such as world
history has witnessed on many an
occasion in the past.
Graot prjtaio tho foalir,r ,,ra
walls that in such a showdown the
United States, being a democracy,
would be found alongside the other
democracles. In Germany the fear
prevails that maybe what happened
in 1917 may happen over again. The
United States, of course, remains
aloof and announces her intention
Of staying out of Europe's quarrels.
But Europe is realistic about
world of airplanes and submarines
and new methods of war which
reach far beyond the zones of OPP
erations, especially in the struggle
for raw materials of which America
has an abundance.
Long Look Ahead.
1t is not without logic, therefore,
that long look ahead was taken
by the British ministry in arrang-
Ing the visit of their sovereigns to
American shores as a means not
only of tleing Canada closer to the
empire but also of bringing the
whole world to witness the frater-
nifty that exists between the heads
OF the United States and British
governments and their respective
peoples. This kind of Interpretation
may be wholly mistaken as to its
ultimate operation-that is, as to
whether it ever does bring America
into the balance of power at all
but Europeans will think so. The
British will hope so, and the Ger
mans will fear it may be so.
On the whole, therefore, the moral
OF the visit of the British King and
queen will be to dramatic, so that
the whole world may read of it, the
natural ties of blood and heritage
which exist between the British and
American peoples.
The bolstering effect on the mo-
rale of the British people them
selves who have lately become nerv-
Gus about war, is tremendously i'm
portant from military standpoint
America helped win the war last
time. What greater confidence
could be instilled in the British
populace than the feeling that
overseas exists potential ally? AS
for Italy, her die may have been
cast on the German side for the mo-
ment. but the closer relations of
America and Britain cannot but
have the beginnings of an influence
at Rome. So also in the Far East,
Japan notes with considerable in
terest how Britain and America are
drawing together. It has an effect
on Far Eastern diplomacy.
Yes it's just visit to the Worlds
Fair and to see the sights, so far as
the average American analyses it,
but to the European mind it's a
big event-maybe a preventative of
War-and helps more than can pos
slbly appear on the surface the
British-French policy of assuring
peace by new balance of power.
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