EDITOR'S NOTE-—~When opinions are
expressed in these columns, they are those
of the news analyst, and not necessarily
of the newspaper,
Domestic
Since President Roosevelt's
“‘quarantine’”’ speech at Chicago in
October, 1937, U. S. public opinion
has veered sharply and outspokenly
against dictators, meanwhile mak-
ing new friends for France, Britain
and China. Washington's tradition-
al policy of isolation and neutrality
has “well-nigh gone by the boards,
thanks to Nazi Jew-baiting, Japan's
threat to U. S. interests in China
and dictator inroads throughout
South America. Most heated U. S.
speechmaker against Adolf Hitler
has been Secretary of the Interior
Harold Ickes, whose tirades pre-
sumably reflect White House senti-
ment.
Long-awaited reaction against for-
eign entanglement took root only
a month ago when congress discov-
ered the administration was spon-
soring military plane sales to
France and Britain. Today the is-
sue of isolation is growing by leap
and bound, not only as a question
of foreign policy but as a political
football headed for the 1940 presi-
dential election. In less than one
late February week enough shots
were fired to constitute a definite
trend:
“Wicked Dictatorships.” To Pitts-
field, Mass., went William R. Cas-
tle, assistant chairman of the Re-
REPUBLICAN CASTLE
More concentration, less chatter.
publican national committee, once
U. 8S. envoy to Japan, later a
Hoover undersecretary of state.
Said Mr. Castle, before a 40 and 8
(American Legion) society: “There
is still so much work . . to keep
this the best possible country . . ,
that our officials would do well to
confine themselves to this task in-
stead of spending so much time talk-
ing about wicked dictatorships and
the dangers of war. We certainly
want none of their philosophy .
but . . if that philosophy is what
other nations want it is not for us
to attempt to prevent it.”
Nye Again. An irreconcilable paci-
fist, North Dakota's Sen. Gerald P.
Nye saw red when he learned of the
French-British plane sales, rushed
to his office and drafted a bill. Its
gist: Military and naval officers
could bar export of any planes de-
veloped in the U. S. until they de-
termined that the craft are not need-
ed exclusively for American de-
fense.
One reason for the bill was testi-
mony that Mr. Roosevelt had ig-
nored high military-naval officials
in making the foreign deal. An-
other reason is Senator Nye's fear
of an ultimate U. S. desire to sell
planes to Germany, Italy, Japan
or any other nation, thus producing
a “vicious circle.” Next day it be-
came apparent the “vicious circle”
had already been created interna-
tionally. A member of the civil
aeronautics authority reportedly
told the senate military affairs com-
mittee that Germany was willing to
sell fighting planes to—of all nations
—France. Reasoning: France
would thereby become dependent on
foreign plane factories, committing
national suicide in case of war with
Germany.
Foreign Trade. Among important
loans of the federal-sponsored Ex-
port-Import bank was one to China
for $25,000,000, financing sale of
1,000 trucks for obvious military use.
Fearful lest this constituted a dan-
PEACE?
RIOT — Resigning because
France failed to ratify a 1936
treaty granting the land inde-
pendence, Syrian Premier Jamil
Mardam Bey touched off street
clashes.
REVOLT—While President Os-
car Benavides was away Peru-
vian Interior Minister Gen. An-
tonio Rodriguez attempted to
seize the government, was slain.
REBELLION—Held responsible
for 220 deaihs in eight months of
race rioting, Ba Maw's cabinet
was ousted in Burma, replaced by
a coalition government.
REPERCUSSION — Fighting
terroristic bombings by the out-
lawed Irish republican army in
Eire and Great Britain, Eire's
parliament authorized the death
penalty for the perpetrators.
gerous commitment, congress
thought twice when the Export-Im-
port bank-—due to expire June 30—
came up for two years’ extension.
Argued Michigan's Rep. Jesse P.
Wolcott: ‘This bank can get us
into a situation which may involve
us in any European or Asiatic con-
flict It is a dangerous thing
to have this power lying around.”
Argued Ohio's Sen. Robert A. Taft:
“The government shouldn't be in
the export business.” Passed by
the house after vigorous debate, the
extension bill could expect a chary
reception by the senate.
Meanwhile the U. 8S. chamber of
commerce lifted its eyebrows over
a report that 25 American industri-
alists would join a British-German
cartel to regulate competition in
world markets and offset a threat-
ened trade war. The state depart-
ment knew nothing about it and was
far from enthusiastic.
But—, While one branch of U. S.
opinion obviously swung to isola-
tion, another branch stuck out its
neck by virtue of a long-standing,
thoroughly accepted American
creed, the Monroe doctrine. Illus-
trating how any U. S. interest in
South America leads to internation-
al complications in the world of 1939
were two developments: (1) The
civil aeronautics authority prepared
to fight German, Italian, French
and Dutch air services for suprem-
acy in South America; (2) Dr. Raul
Ribeiro, Brazilian economist, of-
fered U. S. capitalists a chance to
invest in a mining development proj-
ect for his country, with possible
exchange of Brazilian ore for Amer-
ican-made munitions,
Europe
All European crisis since 1930
have been started by scheming Italy
and Germany. With Europe well
on its way to another nervous break-
down scheduled for mid-March,
signs now indicate that Britain and
France, lovers of peace and the
status quo, *may at least be blamed
—if not responsible—for the spring
crisis.
Underlying every potential Euro-
pean development is the Spanish
war, whose early termination will
leave Italy free to pursue Mediter-
ranean territorial demands against
France. This, because a Franco
victory in Spain is an Italian vic-
tory, giving Il Duce more Mediter-
ranean power. It would jeopardize
not only France's colonies, but Brit-
ain's “lifeline” to the Far East.
By now the Paris-London “axis”
has at least three reasons to de-
cide on an aggressive course which
may decide Europe's future:
(1) Unconfirmed but persistent
reports of French-Italian clashes on
the Libya-Tunisia border (see map)
jibe with announcements that Italy's
Libyan garrisons are being
creased. Tunisia is one French ter-
ritory specifically demanded by
Italy, unofficially. Reports say
Fascist troops penetrated Tunisia
at a spot 25 miles southeast of
the first French fortified zone, just
in-
visited Libya to inspect frontier
LIBYA AND TUNISIA
Is this the next battleground?
forts. Meanwhile Rome reports in-
dicate 1,000,000 men will be under
arms this spring.
(2) Germany has started mobili-
zation for annual war games, ac-
companied by renewed grumblings
against ‘“‘war scares” by western
democracies.
(3) Chancellor Hitler, Premier
Mussolini and Generalissimo Fran-
co are scheduled to meet soon for a
decision on Spain's future, and, pre-
sumably, the future course of an
enlarged European Fascism,
Viewing these three developments
the British parliament has approved
an extra $2,000,000,000 armament
appropriation, starting a new inter-
national munitions race which
Prime Minister Chamberlain admits
might “lead to the bankruptcy of
every country in Europe.” At the
same time London has agreed on
plans for an expeditionary force to
help France in case of war. Mean-
while both London and Paris have
been making desperate last-minute
efforts to win Franco.
German-Italian reply to these
“warlike threats’ will probably be
to hold their troops in Spain until
France grants African concessions.
Thus perplexed, London and Paris
must either use a whip lash, there-
by provoking a new crisis, or per-
mit the most serious blow to demo-
cratic prestige thus far inflicted, If
they planned the latter course there
would be little justification for to-
day's frenzied rearmament.
’
Asia
to drive westerners out of China. |
Until this year the white man was |
oppressed only insofar as he stood |
in the way of Tokyo's marching |
armies. But Japan looks covetous- |
ly and angrily on such prosperous |
developments as Shanghai's inter- |
national settlement, Britain’s Hong |
Kong crown colony and France's
Indo-China. Already Hong Kong |
has been isolated by Jap conquest |
of Canton, her gateway to China.
More recently British territory
along the Hong Kong-Canton rail-
road was bombed. Farther south
Japan seized independent Hainan |
WASHINGTON.—One of Ameri-
ca’s greatest and most glorious tra-
ditions is the jealousy with which its
the right of free
speech and a free press. There is
in the world now, and
never has been one, where
PREMIER HIRANUMA
Is International Settlement next?
island despite an agreement with
France. This accomplished, muni-
tions shipments into China through
French Indo - China might be
blocked,
Latest and craftiest Japanese
plan is seizure of the Shanghai in-
ternational settlement, only non-Jap
area left in the city and an unwill-
ing haven for Chinese guerrilla war-
riors. In the past 18 months 88
political murders have been com-
mitted there, most victims being
puppet Chinese governmental of-
ficers in Japanese pay. Latest vic-
tims were Chen Lo, foreign minis-
ter for the Central China govern-
ment in Nanking, and Marquis Li
Kuo-chieh, grandson of China's
great statesman, Li Hung-chang.
Life is cheap in the Orient and
loss of a few puppets would be
small for control of the Shanghai
international settlement. Though
backed only by rumor, there is
growing belief that Chinese mur-
ders may have been “planted” by
Tokyo as an excuse to march in
and keep peace, conveniently set-
ting an important precedent.
Whether true or not, the belief
jibes with retaliatory action taken
in Tokyo. Up before a turbulent
meeting of the diet rose Lt. Gen.
Seishiro Itagaki, minister of war, to
declare he was ‘“‘convinced of the
necessity to take an effective meas-
ure of self-defense’ in the interna-
tional settlement. Later, in extraor-
dinary session, the cabinet placed
official approval on such action
when Premier Baron Kiichiro Hi-
ranuma declared the terrorism
“compels Japan to take fundamen-
tal measures to maintain peace and
order.”
Meanwhile Premier Hiranuma
could see that his newest drive to
close China's open door would meet
stubborn resistance. From London
came bitter protest against the
Hong Kong bombing. In Shanghai
the international police redoubled
their efforts and prepared to resist
a threat on the settlement. To the
south, at lazy Haiphong, Indo-China,
France was angry enough to junk
her Japanese agreement just as
Japan had junked it, opening her
gateway to supplies for sorely
pressed Chinese troops,
Business
U. 8. efforts to reconcile heavily |
taxed business have proceeded
since “Uncle Dan" Roper was re-
placed as commerce secretary by
Harry Hopkins. After initial prom-
ises Mr. Hopkins settled back in
silence for two months of study to
learn what made his heretofore in-
effectual department tick.
Some hint of more ‘reconciliation |
was contained in President Roose-
velt's pre-vacation remark that i
business need fear no more taxes. |
More hint was found in the speech |
of Secretary of War Harry Wood. |
ring, who stepped from his mili- |
tary shoes to tell the Democratic
Women's National council that he
hoped soon to see an end of “‘spend-
ing and taxing’ if private business
will take the initiative,
Even before Secretary Hopkins
left for Des Moines to make his
“policy speech,” Washington knew
pretty well what an obviously re-
vitalized commerce department in. |
tended to do. Main points in the
Hopkins program: (1) Develop the
heretofore unimportant business ad-
visory council; (2) promote re-em-
ployment to slash WPA rolls: (3)
study taxes and their effect on busi.
ness; (4) attempt to succeed where
the labor department had failed, in
settling the feud between the Amer.
ican Federation of Labor and the
Congress of Industrial Organiza
tions.
People
Tom Mooney, recently pardoned
labor leader, has been admitted to
a San Francisco hospital.
Hitler's personal adjutant and new
German consul to San Francisco,
has as his announced purpose the
ion is accorded as we have in the
United States. For proof, if proof
be needed, simply take the old atlas
and examine the countries, one by
one, and abundant evidence will be
found. Here, alone in all of the
world, can an individual or a group
have its untrammeled say.
There have been some signs late-
ly, however, that are disturbing. 1
do not mean to over-emphasize
them by a discussion of them, but
the greatest lesson that I have
learned is that the American people
will correct conditions, or prevent
their development, if they know
what the facts are and find them
adverse,
During the last several months,
there have been frequent tirades
against the press of the nation.
Some of the denunciations have
come from President Roosevelt in
reply to press criticism of some of
his policies.
spokesmen have followed the Presi-
dent's lead. Notably among them,
and certainly the most vicious,
L. Ickes, who seems, in this in-
stance, to be the lord high chief
verbal executioner of opposition
writers and newspapers.
Mr. Roosevelt's recent assertion
that some newspaper owners are de.
liberately misrepresenting the facts
and Mr. Ickes’ assertion that “our
newspapers are not as free as they
ought to be in a democracy” con-
stitute serious accusations, even aft.
er one forgets how constantly Mr.
Ickes gets out on a limb. It seems
to me, therefore, that there ought
to be some clarification of the situa-
tion. It might be asked, and prop-
erly, I believe, why Mr. Roosevelt
and Mr. Ickes do not point out those
newspapers that are charged, in ef-
tect, as plain liars.
Administration Seeks to
Get Rid of the Critics
Now, to turn abruptly from one
recent bill introduced in the senate
by Senator Wheeler, the Montana
Democrat. The bill proposes re-
organization of the federal commu-
nications commission, the agency
is the “free speech” just as the
newspapers are the “free press"
that is one of the guarantees of the
national Constitution.
There can be no doubt that the
federal communications commission
is shot through with dissension.
There is no doubt that it has de-
veloped one of the worst messes in
government supervision of any in-
dustry. It is a shameful situation,
and there appears to be no solution
except to get rid of the bulk of the
personnel, from the commissioners
on down the line, until all trouble
makers have been eliminated. I
have written frequently in these col-
umns that the best law can be de-
stroyed by selection of bums to ad-
minister it; and the general ap-
praisal here is that the members of
the federal communications com-
mission are a pretty sickly lot of
government officials. The appoint-
ments the commission has made
also do not constitute a list of men-
tal giants,
Well, you ask, how does this have
anything to do with President Roose-
velt's denunciation of the newspa-
pers. Where does it touch free
speech that may be adverse to the
New Deal administration?
The answer lies in a belief, now
held by a great many observers in
Washington, that somewhere in the
administration is a concerted effort
to get rid of the critics. There is
little political pressure that can be
exerted upon the newspapers, be-
cause they will speak their views
through their columns, but with the
radio, government supervised, li-
censed, a weighty club over its head
at all times, the situation is differ-
ent.
Radio News Commentators
Eliminated From Air Waves
Some things have happened lately
that bear sl ounting. Just as an
to cite only one case,
Boake Carter is off of the air as a
news commentator. He was a se-
A former
friend of the New Deal, Dr, Stanley
High, recently wrote in the Satur-
day Evening Post that Carter was
kept out of new contracts by the
administration.
There have been frequent recur-
rences of the rumor, too, that W. J.
Cameron, who speaks for the Ford
Motor company, was marked by
administration trouble shooters as
a speaker who ough to be eliminat-
*
ed from the air waves. Mr. Cam-
eron continues on the air. Gen. Hugh
S. Johnson, former NRA boss, is a
pain in the neck for the New Deal
as well, but nothing has happened
to him, yet.
Other rumors of the type could
be mentioned, but I was asked how
any body in the government would
dare to interfere. The same letter
asked how such ends could be
achieved,
A few paragraphs earlier, I re-
ferred to governmental supervision,
licensing, etc. That is thé answer
to the question. Any radio station
Renewal of that license de-
federal communica-
regulations and
This would
with
cretionary power. It is a case, how-
inspection of a buck private's
will find it. In the case of the radio
censure—and, 1 suspect, they are
So, to link the Roosevelt denuncia-
tion of newspapers and the Wheeler
radio one has only to know that
Chairman Frank. McNinch., the
viser, largely drafted the Wheeler
reorganization bill. That measure,
it should be added, reduces the
communications commission to a
membership of three. There would
be “administrative assistants’ ap-
pointed for each of the major types
of and, thus, one
individual becomes czar of radio.
another of Wire communication and
80 on. And, while the members of
the commission must be named “by
and with the advice and consent of
the senate,” the administrative as-
sistant may be anyone who has the
necessary political pull.
I repeat that the statements re-
lated above represent the belief of a
good many persons.
One of the swift changes that has
taken place in this country is the
switch in the attitude of the bulk of
the newspapers. It will be recalled
that when Mr. Roosevelt and the
New Deal took over the govern-
ment, there were so few editorial
criticisms of the President's pro-
gram that any outcry was negligi-
ble in effect. The corps of news
twice-a-week press conferences ac-
cepted his statements without equiv
ocation, or without question. It was
a press relationship more friendly
than any other President ever had.
Then, some of the New Deal ideas
proved flops and editors started ask-
ing questions. Their Washington
correspondents searched® deeper
than just official handouts. It was
about this time that the personnel
of various agencies for “press rela-
tions’ began to undergo expansion.
Time after time, well known cor-
respondents were hired, and they
could not be blamed because the
jobs were lucrative. I was offered
one. By coincidence, of course, the
quantity of ‘“‘statements for the
press” increased, accordingly.
Once He Laughed at Them,
But Things Have Changed
A few years ago, Mr. Roosevelt
dealt with the few editorial criti.
cisms in masterful fashion-—by
laughing about them. That was the
i
agency heads,
torial criticisms and unfriendly sto-
ries, or stories that include informa-
tion beyond the handouts released
from government sources, become
the subject for vitriolic attack from
government quarters.
I have no idea how long the cam-
paign against the press may run.
It surely has plenty of momentum
now, and there is plenty of money
available for “press relations”
work. Mr. Ickes said that the mod-
ern newspapers can “dish it out but
cannot take it.” I wonder if Mr,
Ickes “can take it" after dishing it
out,
It has been my conviction always
that the best censorship that Amer-
ica can have is the censorship of
the newspaper reader and, more re-
cently, the censorship of the radio
listener. No newspaper can go on
and on when its columns carry un.
truthful or unsound material. The
radio can not go on unless its pro-
grams are proper and popular, be-
cause it continues to be easy to turn
off the switch and silence the speak.
er. Nor are we, in this country,
compelled to listen to some dema-
gogue in Washington or in a state
capital.
And all of this leads up to the
question: is there an attempt being
made at censorship? If there is, it
is time for us all
& to know about it,
i
|
(sareTY TALKS )
Can It Be the Climate?
HERE'S something about west-
ern climate — |! But Rocky
Mountain and Pacific Coast cham-
bers of commerce will file an in-
dignant disclaimer that the cli-
mate had anything to do with thisr
The National Safety council’s re-
11 western states, excepting Utah,
had higher accident death rates
for the year than any other group
of states in the country. Washing-
ton, Oregon, California, Idaho,
Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Wyo-
ming, Colorado and New Mexico—
in each of these states an average
of more than 100 persons, per 100,-
000 of population, acci-
dent deaths in 1937. Utah ba
escaped the “100 or more” group
with an average of 99.4.
Florida (chambers of commerce
please note) and Delaware were
the only other states with an aver-
age of 100 or more accident deaths
per 100,000 of population last
year. Florida's average was 105.6,
and Delaware's 105.7. Nevada's
average of 137.6 deaths was the
highest reported by any state.
Rhode Island's average of 55.9
deaths was the lowest.
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