Evening Star Newspaper, October 21, 1928, Page 39

Part 2—8 Pages " PAN-AMERICANISM HURT BY MISUNDERSTANDINGS Co-operative Endeavor Between United States and Latin American Nations Held Sure to Bring Greater Era. BY GASTON NERVAL, Authority on Latin American Afla N analyzing the great problems now confronting the world pan- Americanism must be accorded high consideration because of its far-reaching effects upon a great number of nations, ‘The New World, day by day, attains a higher position, and its influence in the political affairs of men is strength- ened in proportion to its cultural and economical growth. The rest of the world looks to this side of the Atlantic for a solution of its great political prob- lems. We cannot very well accept as truthful the assertions made by many writers that the decline of Europe has begun, but we do believe in the exist- ence of a new powerful influence in the Western Hemisphere capable of counteracting the political decisions of Europen countries, or perhaps of an- nulling them. At the present Stages, which is enjoying that torfcal moment,” which all nations sooner or later reach, may be solely | identified as that great influence, but | not far off in the distant horizon may | be discerned the possible participation | of the American republics south of the Rio Grande in further strengthening this influence. Today the importance of these re- publics is purely a moral one, but when their economical and natural resources have been properly developed their par- ticipation will unquestionably be neces- sary in order that the policies of America may be regarded with great weight by the rest of the world. In this does the real value of pan-American- ism consist—in paving the way for uni- fication and leadership. Because this leadership cannot be accomplished so long as there exist discontent, rivalry and opposition among the nations of the American continent. The real hegemony of the New World depends _entirely upon pan-American- ism. When all these unfounded preju- dices, and when the countries as far north as Alaska and as far south as Punta Arenas are guided by one com- mon cause, the political preponderance of this continent would then be an in- disputable reality. ‘This great significance of pan-Ameri- canism vitally affects the United States. If she disregards it, scorns its impor- tance or does not care for the friend- ship and co-operation of the other American nations, she will have diffi- culty in devoting herself to that de- velopment and growth which in a peaceful manner are gaining for her the dominion of the world. The prejudices and anxiety emanating from the South, would constantly ham- per her labors and course of action. On the other hand there is the feeling in some Latin American countries that “Yankee imperialism” may become prevalent and this may provoke a re- " actionary feelling, solely Latin American in character, against the principle of pan-Americanism .that is preached in ‘Washington. ‘These prejudicial tenden- cies which so greatly hamper the friend- ly relations of these nations must be avoided, and the only way of avoiding them would be by a true, sound and ef- fective practice of the principle of pan- Americanism. Aside from having a great political significance, pan-Amer- jeanism has also a great economic sig- nificance to the United States, for it offers excellent markets for the sale of its products as well as for the invest- ment of capital with beneficial results. South American Benefits. In so far as the South American countries are concerned, the benefits derived from pan-Americanism are still greater. By accepting pan-American- ism they become parties of that Ameri- can hegemony which undoubtedly would tend to better them economically. By taking advantage of the financial benefits that would result from their friendly relations with the United States, today the wealthiest nation in the world, the economic resources of the Latin American countries would be multiplied and their industries, as well as their commerce, immensely devel- oped. In addition, pan-Americanism would perhaps be just the incentive needed to bring to an end their old controversies and heated disputes over boundary lines which have no doubt caused their separation. If it is a well settled principle that pan-Americanism is highly beneficial to all, 1f only good can be derived from this” policy, why then does it find ap- position, why is it ignored instead of encouraged? It is because pan-Ameri- canism, like all new doctrines, is sub- ject to misunderstandings, prejudices and misinterpretations of its true mean- time the United | “his- | ing. Lack of a clear conceptioo of economic affairs, which has been caused by the omissions of some and the susceptibili- ties of others, is the main obstacle in the realization of that principle. This economical condition of affairs greatly hinders the progress of the political ideals of pan-Americanism. However, it may be explained that the real cause which underlies such prevalent attitude is one more of psychology, for the cri- terion and ways of thinking of the inhabitants of the South and the North are entirely different and distinct. ‘The problem in itself consists of three factors so closely connected as to almost inseparable—one is psychologi- cal, another is political and the other economic. If the solution to each one of these factors is impracticable, the true success of pan-Americanism would be unattainable. ‘We have referred to the economic fac- tor as being the most important. And, indeed it is, for in addition to being the source from which many others have originated, it 15 by far of more vital impertance in the solution of our daily problems. In what, then, does that lack of conception consist? In Latin America, of their misinter- pretation of the true intentions of American capitalists. Viewpoint of Malcontents. ‘The present malcontents have busied themselves in provoking, among trust and suspicion at the same time that it attributes secret purposes to the financial undertakings of the United States. Almost daily you can hear the “phantom” of “Yankee imperialism” be- ing discussed. They visualize the North as an unscrupulous business man whose only aim is to accumulate wealth with- out regard to the means used for thet purpose. In the minds of these ele- ments, the United States has no other aim than its own economic prosperity, sacrificing to that end all well founded principles, According to them pan- Americanism would be one of the means of ‘developing and fostering of the United States’ economic interesis throughout the continent. They believe that in the end, economic compromises with the United States would jeopardize the sovereignties of the Latin American states and that behind these financial interests lies the real menace of politi- cal predominance to which the debtor |interest charged by some bankers of [ his Fascist program. They | Wall Street on loans made to certain |its enemies, notably the Socialists and |deny that the Black Shirts have felt, countries would have to submit even believe that the Wall Street bank- Latin American governments and the *Masons and brought it back into theland still the | southern countries, that feeling of dis-| ington statesmen; thereforc they fear the existence of economic ties with | Uncle Sam: oppose the coniracting of |loans in New York by their govern- {ments, and look with suspicion at the { private interests of American citize and corporations who go there seeking fortunes. Herein lies the erroneous conception which has resulted from this unfound- ed propaganda of elements who may be identified as Communists and enemies of the United States. Fortunately not all of the Latin American people have the same ideas, but nevertheless that condition of affairs actually holds true. Due to Lack of Knowledge. In speaking of this great impediment, which has delayed the successful de- velopment of pan-Americanism, we must consider that the reason for this is due in a great measure to the little knowledge and conception which they have respecting the psychology of the North American people. They have heard only of their materialistic in- clinations: little they know of their humanitarian principles and generosity, and nothing of their great ideals. Only those Latin Americans who have lived in the United States are in a position to appreciate the great ideals and noble principles of this country, which is serving the world as a great example of good government. However, it is ut- terly impossible to wait until all the people of Latin America have visited the United States in order that that misconception which is so greatly hin- dering the pan-American relations may be forever done away with. We must carry the light of truth into those very countries; we must convince them of what North America actually is; we must @estroy that evil propaganda and intrig: Let now consider, on the other hand, o what extent is the United States held to lack that conception of economic affairs which may be at- tributed,‘in part, to the limited knowl- edge it has of the Latin American coun- tries. The sin has not_entirely been perpetrated by those who maliciously interpret the intentions of the North American capitalists. The carelessness of those who direct the foreign eco- nomic policies of the United States is also responsible to a certain extent. A clear and just idea of the true economic importance of the Latin American coun- tries does not exist. ~Although there are many who are well acquainted with such affairs, yet there are millions of people who still believe that the Latin American countries are semi-civilized re- gions, where commerce, industries and the like facilities are in a primitive stage. Others continue to believe in the fable of political instability and fear the in- vestment of their capital in countries where revolutions and massacres are being carried on without any apparent reason. In general, there is a lot to be desired respecting their knowledge of Latin American affairs. Dislike Tariff Policy. ‘To this lack of conception may be at- economic affairs of the United States with the Latin American countries. As economic_relations of these countries are not highly regarded, it occurs there- fore that no heed is given to their pro- tests against the exhorbitant tariffs which are imposed upon their principal EDITORIAL SECTION he Sunday Star, WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER tributed the commission of errors in the | products by the United States authori- ties; nor to their appeals against the small immigration quota to which they have been limited, and as no effort is made to remedy this condition of affairs or bring about a better understanding, these problems still remain unsolved. Perhaps the most serious of them is the one dealing with tariffs. The high tariffs imposed upon a certain class of commodities of Latin American origin has greatly delayed the proper development of the economic affairs of those countries. Because the great ma- Jority of their products is subjected to heavy tariffs by the United States, which is their principal buyer, their commercial interests are naturally af- fected. Argentine meats, Peruvian cotton, Chilean niter, Bolivian metals, Cuban sugar, are shipped in great quantities to the United States and yet they must suffer the effects of those high tariffs. And as those countries are not in a position to adopt the same measures, because they are forced to import great quantities of articles of first necessity from the United States, as well as to encourage the arrival on their shores of North American capital and to contract loans which day by day become greater, they find themselves at a disadvantage. The tariffs imposed by them on United States products are therefore moderate, but yet they find no reciproc- ity in Uncle Sam. In the last Pan- American conference, held in Havana several months ago, the question of tarifis was the subject of great debate and study, and the Argentine delegate availed himself of the opportunity of- fered to delve further into the subject. Dr. Pueyrredon, the Argentine Ambassa- dor to the United States, after attack- ing the United States tariff policy, re- signed as representative of his country to the conference and to the White House. Some several months ago, be- cause of the recent prohibition of the importation of Cuban tobacco by parcel post into the United States and of the high tariffs imposed on the sugar of that same country, a reactionary move- ment has taken place in Cuba protest- ing against the barriers placed by the United States on its exportation, and this feeling of unrest has been ex- pressed through the Havana daily press, which supports " and encourages the establishment of a protectionistic policy in Cuba that would impose the same restrictions especially on United States commodities. On the other hand, the Argentine Re- public has instructed its Ambassador in Washington, Senor Malbran, to appear before the State Department and dis- cuss at length the recent increase in tariffl which has been imposed upon Argentine linen. Whenever the subject of pan-Americanism is brought up, the discussion of the eustoms tariffs is inevitable. Immigration Problem. Another great problem which de- j serves serious consideration is that of immigration. The Latin American quota is very inadequate, thereby severely restraining the immigration of Latin Americans into the United {States. This materially impairs the mutual understanding between the people of the South and the North, and has a tendency to influence the economic relations of our countries. To these principal problems we may add a few factors of secondary im- portance, such as the inadequate maritime service maintained by the United States with South America, which is much inferior to that in operation by Europe; the lack of BY COL. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH. HE Graf Zeppelin lands at « Lakehurst." “Giant ship delayed by storms and damaged stabil- izer.” “Twenty passengers and crew of 40 disembark 110 hours after leaving Ger- many.” The above headlines and similar ones ran across every important newspaper in the world last week. “The Graf Zeppelin lands at Lake- hurst!” What significance lies behind these words. The first commercial flight across the Atlantic completed. The fourth successful voyage between the Old World and the New World by air- ship. “Giant ship delayed by storms and damaged stabilizer.” Detouring storms, buffeted by head winds, flying far off the course and hampered by a broken control—still the Graf Zeppelin landed at Lakehurst in less time than the fastest liner crosses the Atlantic. Let me emphasize fhis: “Twenty passengers and crew of 40 disembark 110 hours after leaving Germany.” Not a skeleton crew, but 60 people made the westward crossing—the most difficult crossing of the Atlantic, in addition to breaking the world-endur- ance record. What if the Zeppelin did arrive be- hind schedule? Should we compare centuries of shipping development to a maiden flight of the product of a new industry? An ocean liner would be de- layed by a broken rudder. This flight should not be considered to demonstrate all that can be accom- plished by the lighter-than-air ship. It should be viewed rather as an indica- tion of what may be done in the near future, when transoceanic flight no longer is an experiment, and when our theories have been replaced by experi- ence of regular operation. The airship has definitely established its present-day superiority over heavier- than-air craft for transoceanic travel. After four trips over the North Atlantic, the Zeppelin still holds a 100 per cent record, whereas such flights by plane are at best hazardous undertakings and only too often result in the loss of both craft and crew. By her last accomplishment, Germany has added greatly to the progress of in- ternational communication. She has brought nearer the time when ancient international boundaries will disappear in the bottom of a new sea of commerce. The aircraft coupled with the radio will soon bring the remotest corner of the world close to the center of modern civilization. Every country looks for- ward to the time when aircraft will be unhampered by thousands of miles of ocean and when the planes of foreign nations make ports of inland cities. In our enthusiasm, however, we should not overlook the necessity for sound development. We are not ready for pas- senger trafic over the North Atlantic 21, 1928. What Airships Mean to World Lindbergh Declares Ancient International Boundaries Will Be Erased by Sea of Aerial Commerce. either by airship or airplane. First we should obtain more experience from op- eration over safer routes. Regular transoceanic flight is in the near future, but there are two steps to be completed before it arrives. First, both America and Europe will be covered by a network of airlines from which much operating experience will be gained. Second, these lines will be extended between North and South America and between Europe, Asia, Africa and Au- stralia. After these routes are under operation and aircraft have been de- veloped to meet, the problems which they will bring, then we will be on the threshold of transoceanic flight. The first of these phases is nearing completion. Thousands of miles are flown daily by European air transports and the United States is covered by a network of passenger and mail lines, with others being inaugurated as rapidly l (Continued on Fifth Page.) Seeks Peace With Holy See Mussolini Would Like to Be the Man Bridging Long Existing Chasm of Misunderstanding. Note—The Star today presents the second of a series of articles dealing with Mussolini and the operation in Italy of Facism. At the request of the Italian Government, Edward Corsi visited Italy and made a com- lete survey of the country, its po- fim-ul, social, religious and industrial conditions. He interviewed Premier Mussolini at length. The Star, in publishing this series, does not com- mit itself in any way to the conclu- sions of the author. In this connection it must be added that Mr. Corsi, director of Harlem House, is an Italian of prominence in America. He has been a resident here all his life, is a graduate of Fordham and editor of La Follia, the largest Italian weekly in the United States. In his own words he is “neither a Facist nor an anti-Facist,” and these articles will refiect his own observations. BY EDWARD CORSIL HAT about the church in Italy? Here is a question which is sure to be asked in any dis- cussion of the Italian situa- tion. And it is a difficult question even for one who, like the writer, has studied it on the spot and talked it over with men who are high up in the circles of both the Vatican and the government. It is a difficult question, not only because it is very intricate, but because there is really nothing very definite about it, except that it exists and that for the first time in almost 60 years Italy has a government which has been making a sincere effort to solve it. Has Confidence of All Leaders. ‘Mussolini’s one ambition is to go down into history as the man who restored peace between the Holy See and the Italian government. It is common gos- sip in Rome that he has made repeated attempts to induce both Fascisti and churchmen to agree on some sort of a compromise which will release the Pope from his self-imposed exile and heal the breach created by Victor Emmanuel’s troops in 1870, The Duce’s trusted adviser on church matters is a Jesuit priest, one Father Tacchi Ventura, a former secretary gen- eral of the Society of Jesus. Father Ventura has the confidence of the lead- ers of both church and state, and he is reputed to be one of the ablest diplo- mats in the Jesuit order. About 10 months ago an attempt was made on Father Ventura’s life and the Fascist press accused the Masons of | promoting it. substantiated. ‘The question of the church in Italy has a double aspect. First there is the political aspect, which relates to the sovereignty of the Pope and then the religious aspect, which has to do with the status of Catholicism as the faith of the Italian people of state. The problem of the Pope’s sovereignty is still unsettled. This is what is known as the “Roman question,” which grew out of the government's expropriation of the papal state in 1870, The re- ligious problem, which was a product of the liberal and radical philosophies that ruled Italy until the march of the Black Shirts in 1922, has been solved. Now Religion of the State. For the first time in 60 years the Italian government accepts the Catho- lic faith as the religion of the state. The charge was never properly advertising the North Ameri- can commerce in many of the southern republics: the exhorbitant wrs are but an instrument of the Wash- absence of press co-operation. [ > Mussolini, who was formerly an enemy of the church but is now its friend, has made religion an integral part of He has destroyed schools, colleges and universities of the POPE PIUS WALKING land. He has restored to the Holy See the property confiscated in 1866, in- cluding the beautiful Convent of Assisi, which the old governments used as an orphan asylum, and numerous church edifices in all parts of the peninsula. He has increased the pay of the parish priests—which has earned him consid- erable support in the rural districts. He has restored the crucifix in the Coliseum, the Pantheon and in other public buildings and monuments. Fi- nally he has destroyed the spirit of anti- clericalism which has been bred by former generations and encouraged in its stead a feeling of respect and good will which has been of immense bene- fit to the church and its represent- atives. Naturally all this has not been devoid of political opportunism. The policy of rapprochement with the church proved good strategy in the elimination of the powerful Popular, or Catholic, party, and in the winning of the peasant, who is a devout Catholic. Moreover, Musso- lini has had the vision to see that the good will of the church is a powerful asset in the promotion of Italy’s inter- ests abroad. But it would be unfair io- feel, that a pro-Catholic policy is logical and natural in a coun- K} IN VATICAN GROUNDS. try which is at least 90 per cent Catho- lic and in a movement which has so much in common with Catholicism. As far back as 1921, Mussolini, then a Republican, declared in the Chamber that “the Latin and imperial tradition of Rome (which is the Fascist tradition) is today represented by Catholicism™; @ year later he assumed office by in- voking the assistance of God. And Minister of Justice Roco, one of the keenest intellects in the Fascist ranks, adds that “religion is too fundamental an element in the life of the Italian people, and the Catholic Church too es- sential an institution, for the Fascist state to ignore one or the other.” Attitude Is Appreciated. ‘The Holy See naturally appreciates the policy of the government and the Pope himself has often expressed this appreciation. But, strange to say, the spokesmen of the Vatican assume the rather disconcerting attitude that the government is simply “restoring” to the church, and in the interest of the state, what was originally and rightfully hers. In other words, the church does not feel in any way indebted to the Fascist for {the many ‘“privileges,” to use the Fas- cist term, which have been extended to her since 1022, In reply to an article by Arnaldo Mussolini, in which the Duce’s brother complained of the church’s ingratitude, the Osservatore Romano, the official organ of the Vatican, said: “It is to the credit of Fascism that it has risen above the old radical Masonic mentality of the past and re- stored to God and His church what was rightfully theirs. If Fascism continues to pursue this course, the first to feel its benefits will be the state. For the Italian people are neither Reds nor Masons, but Catholics like their fathers. However, the writer .(Mussolini) must not say that the church is indebted to the state for its liberality. No, the Fascist state, which is legal heir to the Italy of yesterday, has rebuilt what the old Masonic state had destroyed, and only in part. In restoring this part to the church, it has not restored it to any men, but to God; and the writer may rest assured that God has never been surpassed in generosity, but pays back at the rate of 100 to 1. His church are still creditors.” Negotiations Handicapped. This attitude has not only irritated the Fascisti, who have not been slow to resent it, but has greatly handicapped the negotiations for a solution of the Roman question. Indeed, it has led to a cooling off of sentiment and has split the ranks of the Fascisti, many of whom feel that Mussolini has been al- together too lenient in his dealings with the church. The Black Shirts blame this attitude on Cardinal Gasparri, who, they say, is an anti-Fascist. The truth is that the cardinal is neither 1anti-Fascist nor pro-Fascist, but simply | pro-church. There is a wing in the Fascist party which has never favored reconcilia- tion with the Vatican. This wing is not particularly opposed to the church, but feels that a solution of the Roman question would not help Italy. It fears that an independent papal state would ul- timately lead to a non-Italian Pope—a prospect which is not relished by any Italian. Moreover, they are afraid that such a state might create serious inter- national complications for Italy. They are in favor of a policy which keeps the question constantly on the verge of a solution, but never actually leads to a solution. “Religion.” these Fascisti say, “is di- vine, but the Curia is human. Politics can always get the best of the situa- tion and create difficulties for the coun- try.” Mussolini does not share this view, From the standpoint of the church, the solution of the Roman question is | predicated on the restoration to the Holy See of a territory constituting in every réspect a state per se. Again and again spokesmen of the Vatican have emphasized this condition. In an in- terview with an Italian newspaper man, Cardinal Gasparri is quoted as saying, “What the Holy See must have for the exercise of its mission is simply this— not only freedom and independence from all earthly rule, but such freedom and independence as will be evident to the faithful everywhere.” 1In other words, a sovereign state. As to Territory Involved. How large this sovereign state is to be and where it is to be are questions that the Vatican has not answered. The only information that churchmen have ventured on the subject is that the Holy See will be satisfied with any strip of land which it may rightfully call its own. In this connection the Pope has used the term “minuscolo,” or literally “tiny.” In a pamphlet published last year by weli_known R lawyer of God and | Reviews of Books BY FRANK H. SIMONDS, N all the backing and filling which | is now going on in London and Paris over the already notorious Anglo-French naval agreement, with its interesting military at- tachments, there is one circumstance which deserves a notice that it has not yet enjoyed on our side of the At- lantic. And this circumstance supplied the major fact of the Washington Naval Conference of 1921-22. Every one will recall that after the question of battleships had been settled a great controversy broke out on sub- marines. The British delegation came to America resolved to persuade the United States to join Britain in a pro- hibition of the submarine as a weapon. This purpose was the natural outcome of a war in Wwhich the Germans had very nearly starved Britain into defeat by their use of the undersea craft. In Washington, however, the British were confronted by the report of our | own naval experts, who alleged that the | submarine was an essential element in our own defense and should not be abolished. This was the position taken by Mr. Hughes in his opening address. | Mr. Balfour, by contrast, pressed the British view and in fact appealed over the heads of the American Government to the American people. He was enor- mously aided in this campaign by the | brilliant group of English journalists who accompanied the British mission and circulated their articles through the American press. The French, on the other hand, backed by various smaller nations, took the American view and held out for the submarine. French resistance being immutable, American _policy—which wa- vered a little under British attack, was less important. Finally the whole dis- pute was carried from the private con- ference to the public and the French were castigated all over the United States for refusing to accept a limita- tion of submarine strength which con- formed to the ratio they had accepted in battleships. Since the French refused to yield, the British presently declared that no limi- tation in cruisers was possible, because the cruiser was the natural weapon of defense against the submarine. Thus, while we surrendered our prospective supremacy in battleships, the British retained their actual superiority in cruisers and no limitation was set for this craft. This was of course the point of departure of negotiations which ter- minated in the unsuccessful Coolidge Conference in Geneva. These negotia- tions had for their purpose to bring about parity between American and British cruiser fleets by the fixation of a | limit such as was already agreed upon | in the case of the battleships, Interest Revives. All of this otherwise musty ancient history becomes of immense contem- porary interest when the present An- glo-French naval agreement is examin- ed. By this agreement the British con- sent among other things to the aban- donment of any attempt not merely to abolish, but even to limit the tonnage of small submarines, But small sub- marines are patently the sort of craft the French could use most advantag- eously against British merchant mar- ine, given the relation of the French coast, to the British lines of sea com- munication. Thus the British have gone over com- pletely to the French view. They have accepted the French position which they assailed in the Washington confer- ence. They have publicly repudiated all the long and ingenious arguments Mr. Balfour made at Washington tend- ing to show first that the submarine jtself was an inhuman weapon, and second that British existence would be endangered if the use of this weapon continued. On the contrary, they have agreed to the unlimited use of the weapon by that nation which could use it most effectively. Why have the British thus changed front and, to accept their own esti- mate, put their own security in the hands of their French neighbors? There can be but one explanation. The Bri- tish admiralty, which largely controls the present British cabinet, have con- vinced it that the real menace to Great Britain, the actual enemy to pre- pare against, is not France, but the United States. There is no other con- ceivable explanation for such a per- formance in somersaulting. The thing goes much deeper, how- ever. What the British have done is to undertake by diplomatic arrange- ment to bring about a complete accord between British and Prench policies, not on naval matters, but on_the whole range of foreign questions affect= ing both. They have, in effect, con- cluded to accept French views with respect of Germany—which means to continue the occupation of the Rhine- land until Germany meets French terms—to swallow French views to land armaments, views which have hither- to been stoutly opposed by all British representatives in the League of Na- tions. They have—a minor detail but showing how the wind blows—permit- ted their troops to join with the French in maneuvers on German soil and their aviators to indulge in simi- lar operations with the French in the south of France, where Italian sus- ceptibilities are most sensitive. Now all this must recall to the mind of any one who remembers the last decade of the nineteenth century and the first of the present the fashion in which the British, after coming very nearly to war with the French over Fashoda, proceeded to liquidate all the colonial ‘disputes and arrange that en- tente cordiale with their hereditary enemy which was the starting point of the World War in the minds of not a few observers. German Challenge Responsible. All this really tremendous change in front was due to the German naval challenge. The British -cleared their decks of all minor disputes and ad- dressed themselves to the business of organizing a combination in Europe which could make face to a great power, whose naval policy constituted in British view a direct challenge to British supremacy and a real menace to_British security. But this is what they are doing again. We and not Germany consti- tute, to the comprehension of the Brit- ish admiralty, the cotemporary danger. ‘The old strategy is just as good for them now as then and they are us- ing it. Less than seven years after they were fighting the French on all the points which were contested in the American Capital. And the French are accepting all the British views in the matter of the British dispute with the United States over naval parity. Now no one supposes that history is going to repeat itself inexorably and that we shall presently find our- selves as the Germans did in 1914 up against a great combination of power and compelled to choose between sac- rifice of é:;estlge and conflict against great odds. All the conditions are different, neither the British nor the American pecples could be stampeded | into war as the Germans were. The Al BRITAIN ENLISTS FRANCE AGAINST U. S. SEA POLICY England Overthrows Every Naval Prin- ciple Advocated in Post-War Years to Retain Cruiser Supremacy. British policy, itself, is already awake ening general criticism and deep ap- prehension among the British people, who have no desire to quarrel with us. But the policy is there. They don't accept it, they never have accepted it and they will only vield if equality in cruisers is forced upon them in the same fashion equality in battle- ships was, namely, by the clear evidence that parity is the single escape from in- feriority. As long as we have not physical equality they will continue to calculate that such a catastrophe can be avoided either by insisting upon a kind of parity which would insure their own superi~ ority or by a combination with France— and with Italy as well ich would give them a paper superiority, although, of course, even the admiralty realizes that neither the French nor the Ital- ians, much less their own people, would follow them into war with us. But as long as we have not parity something may happen to prevent our getting it. Our pacifists may rebel, our Middle West may refuse, our financial situation may prevent. French Profiting. As for the French, they are playing a profitable game. They have exploited the British naval apprehensions to get for themselves recognition of their sub- marine policy, consent and therefore support, for their military policy, sub- mission to their non-evacuation policy and a tremendous access of prestige growing out of the patent fashion in which British continental policy con- forms to French wishes. Never was a revenge more complete than that by which the French have made the Bri- tish publicly eat dirt over all the things which they said and did in the Wash- ington conference. But while there is not the smallest reason for becoming excited or even angry over British operations, it is clear that the full import of the ma- neuvering should be appreciated. The Baldwin government has thrown over- board every principle which successive governments have advocated in the porst-war vears in their relations with France, solely and simply to enlist the French support and that of the allies of France in Europe against the American naval policy, which is based upon the demand for parity in cruisers estab- lished on the same line as that for battleships. That's the Anglo-French agreement in a nutshell. (Copyright. 1928.) Tourist Pays $35,000 For Old Stradivarius Picking up a forgotten violin in a corner of an old farmhouse, seeing therein an opportunity to exchange it for a few pennies and help recoup the vanished family fortunes, and then having a vacationing foreigner pleased to take it for a mere $35.000—this ought to be just a dream, but it is what really befell a lowly peasant of the town of -Bolzano, in the Italianized South Tyrol. Harassed by the wolf at the thresh- old, the peasant un tedly came upon the instrument and cleaned it up for possible sale. Lu an it of the English firm of Hill, enjo; his vacation in Tyrol, encountered the Tryolean and his marketable fiddle. The man from London carefully in- spected the violin and recognized it as a Stradivarius, one of the crea- tions of the famous_ Antonio Stradi- vari of Cremona. It therefore was really some 200 years old and, of course, had the exceptional tone of beauty and the finish made from a secret formula—qualities that to this day have not been achieved in this most human of musical devices. The Englishman was glad to pay 35 grand for it, but not less happy was the jubilant owner thus to part with the ‘prize. If the peasants of the region are now ransacking their homes, the reason is not far to find. Vatican Telephone System Revamped ‘Telephone calls have been increas- ing at such a rate in the Vatican as to necessitate a complete reorganization of its telephone system. After much time and work the network of telephones. of utmost importance to the Holy See, has been modernized with a central of 100 numbers. It is now possible to make connections with the Vatican or for the Vatican to get outside “parties” without the aid of an operator. Four numbers are reserved for the Pope's personal use, since his transactions over the wire involve a host of dignitaries, including the papal secretary of state, the master of ceremonies, the titular cardinals and other officials. The Vatican's telephone system, as well as the entire elevator service, is main- tained by the firemen on the grounds. whose work as flame extinguishers 1s insignificant. Nestor of €anadian Body Observes 101st Birthday Hon. A member of the Canadian senate since 1907, nestor of the dominion’s parlia- George Casimir Dessaulles. mentarians, and probably the oldest living legislator in the world, celebrated the 101st anniversary of his birth at his home in St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, on Sept. 29. Canada’s grand old man is hale and hearty and possesses all his natural faculties, while his mind, hear- ing and sight are as keen as that of men sevaral decades younger. Just one of Senator Dessaulles’ char- acteristics is that he never has head- aches. Doesn't, in fact, know what they are except from hearsay. He ex- pect to legislate until he is 125, “Senility,” he says, “is a state of mind.” “Rum Row” in Baltic Perplexes Officials The “rum row” of the Baltic, from which thirsty Finns and Swedes have been securing liquor for several years. has officials of both countries guess- ing. The Aland islands appear to be the center of their operations, while countless small islands lying to the east furnish hiding places in time of S eatzing tha alizing that the long Fall s will make detection morll' mm‘t‘f'm} oflkila]s :1;\'& lncllie-?ed their efforts to capture the small ship-to-shore . boats, which the bool:lmers Ill:.pe;?ll none of their efforts have met with re- sult. The rum row, accors to Baltic sea captains, now consists of 14 ships, three of which are now in the vicinity of Aland with 400,000 quarts of liquor aplece, while a fourth, the Nadividat, which flies the Chilean flag. is reported to be bound for the north coast of Sweden with 450,000 quarts in its hold.