STEPPING IN AGAIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 300, 18 December 1937, Page 22

STEPPING IN AGAIN

U.S. AND POWERS. WORLD PEACE PROBLEMS. UNOFFICIAL ROYALTY. (By H. R. BAUKHAGE.) WASHINGTON. Important as the invoking of the nine-power parley is to America, there may l>e something much bigger behind it. Evidence revealed in a well-informed and disinterested quarter is the basis for this prediction: If the Brussels conference succeeds a world conference, with objectives as broad as the League of Nations itself, will probably be called, and America will take her place well up toward the head of the table. It is improbable that such a plan has yet been specifically agreed upon between Great Britain and the United States. Only a small group could affirm or deny the possibility, but enough has been whispered in authoritative enough words to clothe the idea in more substantial garments than a pious wish. One thing is certain: The American delegation to the nine-power parley, while it won't make any public admission of tlie fact, is going to Brussels prepared to discuss other matters beside the Sino-Japanese question if it gete a chance. Mr. Davis is accompanied not only by an expert on the Far East, Mr. Hornbeck, but also by an adviser on European affairs, namely, the head of that division in the State Department, I'ierrepont Moffat. Re-entry to World Stage. Nor is that the only hint that America is looking westward as well as eastward. More impressive, since it lias been carried on with the knowledge of only a few of his colleagues, Norinan Davis has been carrying on a study of the Spanish situation. The assumpton is that he expects to make use of it. • It seems safe to say that, if the Nine Power negotiators manage to complete the first chapter of America's re-entrance oil the international stage, her delegation lias all the notes ready for chapter two. A lot can happen, of course, to change this picture before it is inked in. But this is the way the background looks to one unquotable observer who stands uear enough to get a pretty good close-up: The United States doesn't feel that the Nine Power Treaty is a broad enough implement to handle even the present situation. Some of the nations most involved in the Far Eastern affair, notably Russia, aren't signatory to the treaty. Anyhow, the Sino-Japanese affair is only part of the larger problem of world peace. But that pact is a lever. If it can be put in motion to bring other nations into the Sino-Japanese discussion, then the scope might be broadened to take up the world situation, with all nations participating.

Black's Law Criticised. Content of Chairman Kennedy's coming report, which, it is predicted, will rock the Merchant Marine and Maritime Commission Act from stem to stern, is going to be particularly painful to Associate Justice Black. That is, if the former senator from Alabama still has pride in his legislative accomplishments. He wrote much of the Act, and the very parts that he created are going to get some of the hardest walloping from Mr. Kennedy. Of course, the content of the report is secret, but Mr. Black will be lucky if Mr. Kennedy doesn't write something like this about his pet measure: — 1. The law, as written, seems to be drawn up so that it exclude® some of the biggest shipping lines from possible participation in Government subsidy contracts. Take, for instance, the clause which limits the salary of any official in a shipping company to 2.->,OOO dollars a year. This would keep the great United Fruit Company out, if nothing else did. 2. The profit motive is interfered with by the recapture clause. This clause gives the Government one-half of all profits over 10 per cent on capital investment by the shippers. 3. The down payment required of shipowners who purchase ships, the building of which is subsidised by the Government, is too high. It is 25 per cent. These are only three of the many points that Mr. Kennedy will knock down when that monumental report k made public. All of them and others were Mr. Black's handiwork.

Windsors Pose Social Problem. Washington is wondering just how the Duke and Duchess of Windsor will get to the White House. It isn't a simple matter when you are a distinguished foreigner, because, unless you are a close personal friend of the President or bis wife, the approach must lie made through the Embassy of your country. Thai is to prevent anyone who is persona non grata from being received. An extreme case would btf a revolutionary leader. So far the British Embassy doesn't even know (officially) that the Duke is coming. If the Embassy never finds out that the Duke is in town, the President, who knows him pretty well, could whisper to the State Department that he'd like to have him for tea. The State Department would then whisper to the Ambassador and then—well, probably everything would be all right. But just how well does the President know the Prince ? —N.A.N.A.