The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-02-08

Washington. - In spite of the
Neutrality Act passed at the
special session of Congress less
than three months ago, the
United States is very far from
being clear of possible entangle-
ments in the European war and
the Japan-China affair. That IS
increasingly evident.
The problems confronting the
Government in it's efforts to
maintain strict neutrality and at
the same time stand up for our
national rights on the seas and
in international commerce, are
causing much concern both IN
the administrative and legislative
branches.
Standing out in front of all the
other international questions is
that as to how the United States
can give effective assistance to
Finland without involving us In
Europe's affairs. Technically,
under the Neutrality Act, there is
nothing to prohibit the lending
of any amount of money which
the Firms may need with which
to buy the airplanes and NUM-
tons necessary to hold out
against Russia.
The voluntary contributions be-
ing collected by Mr.. Hoover's
committee, large as they are, can
be used only to feed and clothe
the civilian population of Finland
and not to supply weapons. Inc
loan of $2O,O0O,OO0 by the Export
Import Bank is also limited to
non-military purposes; this, in
the face of the fact that officially
there is no war in progress bet
ween Russia and Finland.
Firms Defeat Predicted
The prevailing attitude IN
Washington is the belief that Fin
land cannot stand out alone
against Russia but in the long run
will be defeated. In the case, it
is felt here that the United
States, with any other nations
which give Finland military aid,
would become the next detectives
of Russia's terrorism. In other
words, official Washington, much
as it admires and sympathlzes
with the Firms, is terribly scar
ed of Russia and wants to play
safe.
There are signs, however, of a
swing away from the isolationist
state of mind Of which Senator
Borah was the foremost ex-
ponent. The realization that the
war is not going to be ended
quickly, and that American in
terests are threatened and Ameri-
can influence weakened so long
as this country tries to wash its
hands of all concern over the fate
of the small nations and the de-
mocracies of Europe, is penetrat-
ing the consciousness of many
Senators and Representatives
who did net believe last Fall that
really serious war was i'm
pending.
Pacific Problem Considered
The reawakening of interest in
international affairs is also pro-
jectingl official thinking across
the Pacific. It is too early to try
to forecast the effects of Ameri-
cas- cancellation of our thirty
year-old commercial treaty with
Japan, but the general belief here
is that it gives new point to the
demand for navy large enough
and efficient enough to protect
both cur coasts against any pos
sible enemy. That need has the
support of both Democratic and
Republican leaders.
There are numerous indications
that the partisan differences upon
which the elections of next
November will be decided will
not be chiefly over information
al relations. There is no suspicion
that any of the potential presl-
dental candidates of either party
desires or intends to use the war
situation as a springboard for his
own personal POLITICAL ambitions.
In all camps there is evident an
increasing realization of the seri-
Gus and solemn obligation to put
patriotism above partisanship. It
is the belief of many shrewd OBJ
servers here, therefore, that the
presidential campaign will be
fought out on strictly domestic
issues, with both parties in parti-
cally complete agreement on
foreign policy.
Hull May Be Nominated
That, oddly enough, may re-
suit in the nomination for the
presidency of the foremost ex-