Show This Weel In Washington D. D C. C Washington Sept s War War has superseded politics at least for the ti time le being in the rr II t of Vash Washington A Ado Ado do Oj l of vital national In Interest in- in terest s are asked and the answers are as various as the questions All relate to the possibility or probability probability probability proba proba- of the United States being drawn into the European mess whether we want to go to war or not to just what we can do to keep out and how a great war in Europe would affect us If we were not participants Recent events have haye disclosed facts previously unknown unknown- to the public about abou t the preparations which our Government has been making in anticipation of war whether involving inC ing us or not Much has been said and written about the completeness of our program program pro pro- gram of national defense but the recent reent war t games ames in which the regular army almy and the national guard participated have disclosed that weare we weare weare are nowhere nearl nearly as ready to fight I as people had supposed I Serious s Deficiencies The Chief of Staff General Hugh A. A Drum has l teen been een outspoken in his criticism of the and lack luck of raining training 1 I of the national guard units and has pointed out serious deficiencies in the time military equipment ment both of the citizen soldiery soldiery soldiery sol sol- diery and the regular alai We are arc short of ot mobile artillery of antiaircraft antiaircraft anti antI- aircraft guns uns and of defence coast-defence art artillery Ulery according to high army of- of leers some of whom are much more outspoken than General Drum Official Washington is fully snare aware of the almost unanimous desire of the people of the United States to toi i remain emain at peace but in plan many man quarters quarters the qu question stIon is raised as to whether that is Possible under cro- cro tatu tain circumstances which might easH easily arise alse While public and official sympathy thy with willI the so called democracies of Europe as a against the time dictatorships dictator dictator- dictatorships r ships is so well understood as to betaken be betaken betaken taken for granted can we wo avoid acts which could Ibe interpreted as taking sides f In ca case cafe p of a n conflict resulting inthe in to the tho conquest of of the tho free freo nations bythe by bythe the lire to totalitarian l governments go retaliations re retaliations retaliations re- re against the United States might alight quickly follow if an any official action by iby our government could be been given en the color of unfriendliness to the victors Such retaliations might not take tale the form of direct war wm against the United Slates Watch Vatch South America lu In the time opinion of many high officials officials of a victory victon lJ by Germany Gormany oi or Russia Russin Rus Rus- sin sia or Italy Haly or their com combined forces over France and Great Greal Britain would be followed b by attempts attempts attempts at at- tempts to colonize or oven even assert Continued on la last page I L This Week In Washington DC D.C. DI Ci Continued from page one territorial authority over parts part of at South America In that th case else tho United States would b be obliged under under under un un- un- un der Its treaty obligations obligation'S and me the Iiii hl Monroe Doctrine to resist by whatever r force Loree might bo Ibo necessary Invasion of any part such say sary any I of ot America i iThe The possibility that a Q victory bY bYthe bY bYthe I Ithe the Central Powers might result In Inthe inthe the transfer of or sovereignty over I Canada Is one which is also being given serious consideration here What sort of acts might be interpreted in interpreted interpreted in- in as giving lid aId to one side sid as against the other nobody can caD foretell since nobody can n bo ho sure suro that truth and honesty honest will govern the decisions and acts of some of ot the great reat powers posers Recent European Europe n events indicate the contrary The reason which actuated Congress Con Con- Congress gress ress In refusing to amend the Neutrality Neutrality Neutrality Neu Neu- Act to a accord cord with the Presidents President's Presidents President's Presidents President's Pres Pres- ident's desire was tho the belle belief that if it so amended It would lead to our lending support to one side which was denied to the other side and so 80 would increase the likelihood atour of at our involvement in war But Hut the neutrality law as It stands still leaves loopholes through which the Executive could favor one side The law gives the President the right to restrict the u use e of or American ports and territorial waters by belligerent belligerent belligerent bel bel- submarines or armed merchant merchant merchant mer mer- chant vessels and to promulgate such rules and regulations as may maybe maybe maybe be necessary to carry out the provisions provisions pro pro- visions of the law This part of the law It is being pointed out here could be used to favor the sea-power sea nations France a and d England as against those with less naval power Regardless of or the question whether whether ther the United States may become becom involved ol In actual hostilities the b best st Informed officials in Washington Washing Washing- ton hold that war will have a serious effect upon this country's economic position Dies Committee Reports A factor which may have an important im- im Important Im Im- bearing upon the question whether the United States will be drawn into the war or not Is indicated Indicated Indi Indi- rated In the preliminary report of the Dies Committee on Un Ameri can Activities Evidence thus far obtained by the committee the report says supports supports sup sup- ports the conclusion that several foreign powers have agents In the United States propagandizing tho American people in the effort to shape the foreign policy of ot the na na- na- na tion The committee puts forward for lor forthe the first time In an American document what Is generally beli believed in n Washington to be the ultimate purpose of foreign propagandists particularly those o of the Nazi gov gov- That purpose Is to make It easier for the governments government of or Germany Germany Ger Ger- many and Italy particularly tl t to obtain oh- oh tain tamo control contra of the e es of If the fhe United Sates in iii case the they succeed in vanquishing shing Great Bt and Fra France ce In the case of cumm propaganda propaganda ganda anda emanating from nl Russia gia the ommittee holds the special interest of the Moscow government Is that tho the democracies of the world and the totalitarian governments shall destroy each other |