The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-04-25
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Nations Attitude on War
Puzzle 10 u. 5. Officials
Washington Hears Conflicting Reports on
Issue of Full Participation; Wildlife
Is 'M0bized.'
By BAUKHAGE
National Farm and Home Hour Commentator.
WNU Service, 1343 H Street,
Washington, ID. C.

WNU Service, 1343 H Street,
Washington, d. C.
WASHINGTON of the inter-
esting events to watch in the capital
these days is the welcoming of a
traveller who has safely returned
from the great west or the wide
prairies. Washingtonians gather
around him with wan but hopeful
smiles on their faces. They are
never quite sure whether he is about
to pull a peace-pipe from under his
blanket or a tomahawk.
And they are not sure whether the
tomahawk is meant for use on them
or as sign that the wild tribes of
Chicago and Pittsburgh and Cripple
Creek and Hollywood are ready to
join the militant East in good old
fashioned war-dance.
Of late some of these returned
travellers have surprised the braves
who collect the wampum and the
medicine men who sit around the
council fires along the Potomac.
Surprised at what they hear from
valley of the Father of Waters and
who are tilling their fields on the
great plains and among the Rock
les. While these distant Americans
are loyal to Big Chief in the White
Tepee (according to the Gallup
polly, "they just amt a-spoilin' for
a fight"
To- ~ Ic n
writers and pamphleteers who have
been most enthusiastic about aid to
the democracies at all costs have
changed their tune. They are be-
ginning to say that the American
people are still so strongly against
permitting America to become a
belligerent that Washington must
step carefully lest it 60 too far in
that direction. 1 have very good
reasons for feeling that the Presi-
dent is beginning to be Influenced
by this feeling.
Diplomats Viewpoint.
Recently talked with foreign
diplomat whose country, still at
peace, is trembling under the threat
ening shadow of the dictators. He
said he found it hard to understand
the American people. He was sure
that they were willing to save the
democracies from defeat at any cost
and yet they seemed to be solidly
against putting this country into
war. ''It reminds me-" he said, "of
a line from the poet Goethe" and
he quoted:
"Two spirits dwell within my
BOSOM"
Some of the Presidents associates
who are able to look on the situa-
ton abroad effectively and are in
close touch with our observers IN
foreign parts are saying, in effect,
this:
"The present American foreign
policy is not being run counter to
the majority of public opinion.
s'It is fully realized that while
parts of the East and certain groups
in Washington are ready for United
States participation in the war inn
mediately, the people as whole
would object strenuously to getting
us into the conflict.
"But they feel that even if this
country should take steps which lead
us nearer to the edge of the conflict
than we have already gone, they be-
lieve that Germany is so anxious to
avoid formal state Of war with us
that she would hesitate a long time
before bringing about such a step.
SIN other words even if we were
to convoy British supply ships to
the very edge of the Western hemi-
sphere, to Greenland for example,
and there was an open battle be-
tween an American warship and
German submarine, war might
not be declared by either side"
Evidence of this conviction was
offered by Democratic Senate Lead
er Barley when he was opposing
the Tobey amendment recently
which expressly forbade the use OF
conveys. Senator Barley said:
IS. if we have violated inter-
national law in such way as could
result in a declaration OF war
against us by Germany, we have al
ready done that, and the conveying
of ships, would be only an incident"
Wildlife Modified
For Defense
The United States is mobilizing
wildlife for defense-the department
of agriculture's recruiting drive is
on!
When the axe of the first settler
rang out on the continent of Amer
lea, it's echoes disturbed the "bal-
ance of nature" Until then the nat
ural food supply regulated the ami