The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-05-04

#WASIIINGTON- So many Sen
ators. and Representatives are re-
porting the. receipt of floed Blet-
ers from the folks back a home,
expressing the fear that the Uni
ter States is heading toward war,
ior askip g. what the real foreign
policy ofThg Administration is,
that it is EVIDENT that a Nwar
scare" of considerable dimensions
lis spreading ever the nation.
j The fear that, the United States
is being headed, toward partici-
patton in another European war
has not been allayed blythe ut
sterances ofs1nen in high positions.
sThose include! the President,
whose recent public expressions
3have caused alarm, and Senator
Taft of Ohio. who openly eharg
Jed the President with exaggerat-
ing the war situation for the pur7
5pose of promoting his own poi+
teal fortunes. i"Ballyhoo" is the
word Senator Taft used. II
It is not easy to discover and
set down an the facts in situa--
ton so complicated by personai3
ties5and ambitions, but the COM
4
bined Judgment sof. the best-in-
formed observers in. Washington
may be summarized somewhat as
follows: -. "a
First, there lis more. war talk
and fear of war in the United
States than there is in England,
and less justification for it. News
paper headlines and loose talk in
Washington are to blame.
Second, the President does. not
want to drag the United States
into war but is; sincerely trying
to prevent or postpone war be-
tween the great European pow
ers. The best judgment here IS
that his public statements so far
have had deterrent effect upon
the relationships.
Third, the President believes
that he is refleeting overWhelm-
ing American public opinion in
lining up this country by inca
sures short of war" on the side
of England and France and
against. Germany, Italy and ia
pan. 80
Hopes for Pause.
If such an overwhelming pub
lie opinion is demonstrated clear
ly to the Dictator nations, backed
up by the demonstration now I'M
der way of American prepard-
ness for war if necessary, and tf1e1
adoption of economic measures
which would help the dennocraz
cies, the hope which actuates. the
Administration is that the aggres-
sor nations will at least pause
long enough to give England and
France time in which to complete
their military alliances and their
war preparations
- To do-that- in the hope Of avert
ing war, the President will go as
far as possible, provided he feels
that. he has "a strong backing Of
public sentiment. .s.I.:5:.
i. AS to what the position of the
United States might be II the eff
forts to stop the impending war
fail that is something which is. up
to the American people andEthe
Congress, butein which the lead
ership Of the President would be
a strong factor, if$not a decisive
one. s: :,---. -: ss,.=--7=e7l .1z7..s;;
Il It can be set down as certain
that nobody in .Wasi1in gtpn from
the President down wants this.
country to get into ANY war. The.
only important difference of OPP
inion is on the question whether
the policies and prom uneements
of the White House will have the
desired effect 5of keeping the
United States out .of . Europe's
quarrels. 5 5'4'.;.*; a.: II IS i
Immersed In Situation. !.
81 The President has become 50.
immersed in the European situa-:
ton that those who have talked
with him lately report that he
seems to be losing interest an do
mestic afairs.zzHis chief i111me-
date concer4rTis~ 1.-The IIeceno2--
mic forces which can be muster
edf;inG support of England and
Frances IL --- -;.::...:::!.=..= i
Those include the barter" plan
of Swapping American surplus
products. fol-. supplieszwhich we
heed4buts not with Japan, Ger
many or Italy-cfeatmg new f.
nancia1; machinery to- Henable
France and Britain tosrealize dolE
liars for. American securities own.
ed by their MISREPRESENTATION dis
locating thelsecurties: market and