The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-27

into overeating ourselves on that
particular diet
For example, reports are current
that the British intend TO hand
over to us the Falkland insular
group in the southern Atlantic.
The Buenos Aires newspaper. No
ticias Grahcas, already has pub
llshed this rumor, and it immedi-
ately is evident that its readers
don't like the idea bit
Anyone who's acquainted with
the little archipelago's history can
readily see why.
They're nice islands, with first-
rate harbor at Port Stanley.
They're pretty fat. therefore well
adapted to suit aviation's needs.
Lying about 250 miles of the Ar
gentine coast. they have consider
able naval strategic value In
their own part of the world.
But are they a possession that
Britain has any right to deliver
to US?
SAhiN0 w ~ schthhh
Originally. under the name OF
the Malvinas isles, they belonged
to Spain. When the Argentines cut
loose from their parent country.
they claimed the group as part OF
their new republic. They hadn't the
facilities then. though, to police 1t
effectively. II became pirate
stronghold. The pirates pestered
British shipping so much that, in
1888, an English war feet swooped
down, cleaned out the sea maraud-
ers. and proclaimed the isles to be
John Bulls. He's kept them ever
since. The Argentines couldn't do
anything about 1t, but they always
insisted that they'd been robbed
by Britain.
Upon Uncle Sans entrance into
World war No. ! President Wilson,
desiring to give an appearance Of
Pan-American solidarity. brought
strong pressure upon the Latin
American countries to Join the AL
lied lineup. Most of them did
not to the extent of fighting, but
nominally, which was all President
Wilson desired
The Argentines. however, said.
If Britain will give us back our
MaIvinas tor Falkland) islands
we'll join-not otherwise. Britain
wouldn't do 1t: so Argentine
stayed neutral and more or less
pro-German throughout.
Now, II we get the Malvinas is
lands all this Argentine resent.
ment inevitably will be turned in
our direction. shooting at least one
big. bad hole through our so-much-
desired western hemisphericaA uni
fication-for Argentina's a major
consideration in our new world
neighborhood
And Singapore Just off the
southern end Of the Malay penin-
sula.
The British don't. indeed, pro-
pose to cede Singapore to us. but
they'd tremendously like to have
US make ourselves thoroughly at
home at their powerful naval base
there. And for obvious reasons;
our men-o-war would take care of
their interests throughout that
area on the globe. leaving their
fleet free to operate elsewhere
where it's urgently needed, heaven
knows.
Philippines Liability
Well. ! never talked with Unit
ed States naval officer who didn't
say he considered the Philippines
an unqualified strategic liability to
us. They're so far or Hawaii, ex-
perts agree, is all right. That's
rather nearer to our Pacific coast
than 1t is TO Japan. It's an invalu-
able Yankee outpost. But the Phil
ippines. clear across the Pacific,
are in the Japs' very dooryard; it
would be. terrible job to defend
EN- at such long range.
And Singapore's a couple Of
thousand miles farther yet.
II we take on that assignment.
u,a hAc0p1a ae had Ocra aim ~