Yesterday the mouthpiece newspaper of Benito Mussolini, Popolo d'Italia, came out with what might be termed a one-for-you-two-for-me proposal. This organ of the Axis stated that if the United States declared war on Japan, the war machines of Germany and Italy would be pointed our way. The paper suggested that we should grab off a few countries, or possessions of other countries, instead of meddling in the affairs of poor old Japan, who is only looking out for her people by taking over a few small islands in the Pacific and all of China. In other words, the United States should sneak up on Canada while she is pitifully weak and unprotected, and annex it, as Italy would do if given half a chance.

Could it be that Hitler and his Italian stooge are afraid that the United States is going to join with England in the present war? Apparently the potential strength of America is quite a worry to the bigwigs of Europe. It is certain that Italy would never offer to give anything away unless she was gaining greater things. Or is it that the Axis has told Japan to keep us busy in the Far East while it takes care of England? A third reason behind this strange proposal might be that Japan feels that she must push the issue now, before election, while the United States is not ready to take any decisive action. Whatever is behind this new move the American pople must try to find the narrow winding path between war and protection of democracy.