Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 October 1939 — WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS BY JOSEPH IF. LaBINE ‘Sphere of Interest’ Division Produces Clash of Ambitions In Baltic and Balkan Sectors [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS BY JOSEPH IF. LaBINE ‘Sphere of Interest’ Division Produces Clash of Ambitions In Baltic and Balkan Sectors

(EDITOR’S NOTE—When opinions are expressed in these columns, they are those of the news analyst and not necessarily of this newspaper.) __________________ Released by Western Newspaper Union. ______________________

WHY ROME-BERLIN-MOSCOW TRIANGLE CAN’T LAST Map shows European sphere-of-influence division and resultant conflicts. Numbered explosions show probable sites of conflict between "triangle” members: ONE—Baltic sea, long an exclusively German area, becomes a Russian sea following tiny Estonia's capitulation to Moscow. Russia thus becomes naval threat to Reich. / ITO — Russ, Nazi interests and nationalities clash here: Lithuania falls in both spheres of influence. THREE—Rumania in German sphere, yet Russia u.lt probably force partial dismemberment by demanding return of Bessarabia and cession of south portion to Bulgaria. Rumania also essential to Russ "Black sea pact.” FOGR—Balkan states, partially in Nazi-Italian spheres, are predominantly Slavic, not Teutonic or Latin, therefore lean Moscow-wise. FlVE—ltalian, German spheres clash m Yugo-Slavia, which each seeks to dominate. Italy fears German victory would make her a Mediterranean power, thus threatening Mussolini's domination there. Italy further se'ps. herself left in the cold by Russ-Nazi division of Eastern Europe. SlX—Turkey, in Russian sphere, is foe of Italy, since that nution covets Turkey's Dodecanese islands. i

THE WAR: Diplomatic Front As September died, U. S. correspondents visiting Germany’s Siegfried line found idyllic peace (see WESTERN FRONT). The warpwas being fought elsewhere, in London, Berlin and Paris, but chiefly in Moscow where Dictator Josef Stalin was teaching Adolf Hitler the danger of playing with fire. Signed by the Nazi-Soviet second men, Foreign Ministers Joachim von Ribbentrop and Viacheslav Molotov were treaties (1) pledging “necessary measures” if Britain and France refused Adolf Hitler’s peace, (2) partitioning Poland to give the Reich a bigger slice than under the original military demarcation, and (3) stimulating trade between the two nations. Joachim von Ribbentrop returned to Berlin in high spirits, handing Boss Hitler the weapon of Russian co-operation with which he hoped to force peace upon the allies. But Herr Von Ribbentrop had paid dearly for this weapon, and the allies were not entirely displeased. The price had been extension of Russian

influence into Baltic and Balkan lands to which Berlin once held clear title. Moreover Von Ribbentr o p had signed away Italy’s title to Balkan domination, apparently without con-

suiting Signor Mussolini. Russian gains were many: She took over Estonia, thereby becoming a Baltic naval power. She extended sway over Latvia and barked at little Lithuania's door, where Hitler has long been kingpin. She got Poland’s oil and wheatfields, looked Hungrily at Hitler’s Rumania, made a pact with Bulgaria and another with Turkey. The allies were pleased for several reasons. First: The entire sphere-of-influence was such a hopeless jumble of mixed nationalities and conflicting ambitions that a blowup was considered inevitable. Second: Two ambitious and ruthless dictators, once isolated from each other, now worked side-by-side with no buffer state between them to absorb the shock. Third: Russia could not be expected to give the Reich much immediate economic help, because her own mobilized armies require first attention. Moreover, Polish oil wells had been rendered unproductive for a year. Western Front The allies prepared for a mighty Nazi offensive when they refused Hitler’s peace, but for the moment all was quiet. A. P.’s Louis Lochner and U. P’s Frederick C.

Oechsner visited the Siegfried line, finding French and Nazi troops fishing, washing clothes and whittling. But in the Saar sector the French continued to advance, while overhead there Was occasional fierce fighting. Aerial Front Conflicts between planes brought conflicting reports. London admitted some planes “have not yet returned” from a raid over Helgoland’s German sea base in the North sea, and Berlin reported five of the six raiders were shot down. Two days later London told of a miracle: Over the western front, a five-plane British reconnaissance squadron was allegedly attacked by 15 German fighters. Three British ships were shot down, a fourth forced to land, but the fifth “flew on to finish the job,” shot down two Nazi planes and forced the remaining 13 to flee because they were “shaken by the steady and accurate fire” of the lone British plane. Naval Front Three Norwegian steams!.. js sunk by Germany in one day; next day the Reich seized three Danish vessels. Apparent reason: Germany has decided everything is contraband of war, which U. S. cash-and-carry advocates maintained was good reason American ships should stay out of belligerent waters. JI ar Miscellany <L Poles in France, planning a strong army, appealed to U. S. Poles to come abroad and fight. <L Experts figured Europe is spending $61,000,000 of the world's wealth on war each day. <L In London, Britain caHed 250.000 more men to the colors, including all men between 20 and 22, with exceptions. \GKICI I.TI RE: Profit Signed last Jqne 23 was a U. S - British barter treaty with dual purposes: (1) to deplete surplus U. S. cotton and British rubber holdings; and (2) to build up for each nation a supply of strategic war materials which must be held in reserve for seven years unless either goes to war. By early October it<. looked like the god of war had netted Uncle Sam a $20,000,000 profit on his deal. Reason: When the pact was signed quantities of rubber and cotton involved had about an even value on the world market. But a month of Europe’s conflict forced highly important rubber up some 30 per cent, from 15.48 cents to 21 cents a pound. Meanwhile cotton declined from 9.58 to 8.85 cents a pound. With first cotton shipments to Britain underway from new Orleans, U. S. boats prepared to pick up the first consignment of British rubber at Singapore on October 15.

DOMESTIC: Congress Simple enough in early phases of neutrality discussion was the proposition of lifting the arms embargo, restricting U. S. ships from belligerent zones and holding belligerent credits to 90 days. But when hairsplitting starts, it is hard to stop. As congress opened debate’ on the issue, administration forces claimed 65 senators (16 better than a majority) favoring cash and carry neutrality. But many an administration supporter soon found himself just as bellicose as Isolationists Nye, Borah and Lundeen. Typical was Colorado’s Edwin C. Johnson. Though he favored lifting the embargo, the 90-day credit clause stuck in his throat: “There is nothing to keep an individual in a belligerent country from buying in large quantities and turning the goods over to the government.” Thus he and many another senator wanted 90-day restrictions enforced against not only the warring nations but their residents as well. At least two more issues threatened to split repeal backers: (1) The clause imposing jail sentences on Americans traveling in forbidden combat areas. Said Senator Johnson’s fellow Coloradoan,

Alva Adams: “For years we’ve been trying to preserve the rights of our citizens, and now we propose to make felons out of them when they .try to exercise their rights.” (2) The clause empowering the President to designate combat areas in which American ships could not travel. Presumably this meant U. S. ships must not only avoid Baltic, North and Mediterranean seas, but must also steer clear of Australia, New Zealand, Britain’s Caribbean possessions, and even Canadian ports. Unless modified, it meant U. S. merchant ships must not only limit themselves largely to western hemisphere routes, but must even then watch their p's and q’s. Repercussions <L In New York, George A. Sloan of the Consumer Goods Industries committee announced manufacturers were avoiding boosts in their selling prices so long as possible, despite price advances in raw materials. <L In Cincinnati, delegates to A. F of L’s fifty-ninth convention heard a plea that the U. S. offer its “mediation services for world peace.” Incidentally, A. F. of L. reported 4.006.354 paid members, only 721386 short of 1930’s all-time high despite interference from C. I. O <L In Michigan, political prophets wondered how his anti-repeal stand on the present neutrality law would help or hurt Sen Arthur H. Vandenberg, current No. 1 possibility for 1940’s G. O. P. presidential nomination. If he wins, the prophets think his nomination is in the bag. <1 In Gearhart, Ore., Assistant Attorney Gen. Thurman W. Arnold told the Oregon Bar association that wartime trade conditions are no excuse for ignoring the anti-trust laws

RIBBENTROP Paid a big price.

COLORADO’S JOHNSON He was for and against.