The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-09-14

tOCaSter) - In the diplomatic
moves and parleyS which have
kept the whole world stirred up
for the past few weeks the Unit
ed States h2s played a far more
Important part than is general
ly realized. Its influence has been
thrown on the side of England
and France and definitely against
Germany, to the point where the
European democracies are begin
ming to feel that this country is
definitely committed to give
them the fullest support to the
very end.
That is distinctly a wrong i'm
preston. No commitment to take
up arms to fight the battles of
any other nation has been made
and none can be made by any au-
thority but the Congress of the
United States.
It would take a great deal
more provocation than has been
given so far to arouse the Amer
lean people to the point of going
to war But in definitely show
ing sympathy with the democra-
tic powers as against the dictator
shops, the Administrations
moves have had the effect of
strengthening the morale of Bri-
tain and France and, it is be-
lieved by highlyplaced men in
the State Department, of break
ing down the morale of Hitler
and Mussolini
To Prevent War
The purpose of this Govern
ment is to prevent war, if that is
possible, while at the same time
preparing our national defense
in case we should be dragged in
to war, and formulating a def
mite foreign policy which would
be acceptable to everybody, po-
Icy which would tend to keep
us out of war rather than drive
us toward it.
Nobody can say with certainty
how much the several appeals for
peace sent to the Central Pow
ers by President Roosevelt have
had a definite influence
The general approval of the
Presidents urgent plea for con-
ference and negotiation between
the conflicting interests in Eur
ope is believed to have had con-
siderable effect. .-
The Presidents direct appeal
to the King of Italy has served to
remind many Americans who
had almost forgotten it that TIA
ly is, after all, sovereignty with
a king at its head and that Mus
solini is merely the kings prime
minister, who can be dismissed
without notice at any time if he
gets the nation into trouble.
The information which Wash
ington gets from Europe indicates
that the Italian government is
beginning to realize that it is on
the spot, if and when a general
war begins, and that its contin-
ued support of Hitler is increas-
ingly doubtful.
Historically, northern Italy has
always been a major battle
ground for every great European
war. And the action of the Pres
ident in denouncing the treaty
between the United States and
Japan has made Italy's coast de-
tense a very serious problem.
Explains Attitude
That takes a little explaining.
AS the foreign experts in Wash
ington figure it, Japan, as an al
ly of Germany and Italy, under
took to make such demonstra-
tions against British interests in
China and the Far East that it
would be necessary for the Bri-
fish fleet to be divided, to pro-
tect the strategic outposts of the
Empire. That would prevent the
concentration of British warships
in the Mediterranean, and leave
Italy free to lend a hand to Hit
Ter.
But when the United States
took a strong attitude in opposi-
ton to Japan, the whole picture
changed. Japan realized that it
might have to face the United
States, not the British, and imme-
diately began to pull in its horns.
Aggression against the British
in China slackened or ceased en-
tirely, and the japanese govern
ment began to make extraordi-
nary efforts to cultivate Ameri-
can friendship anew. On top of
that came the announcement Of
an alliance between Germany
and Russia.
Enemy of Japan
Now, Russia is the traditional
-oooTov of JaDan and the JaDan-