Evening star., 1914-12-31
A Dangerous Discussion.

1t is possible to sympathize with those
members of Congress OF German ex-
.araction who at this time are endeavor-
ing to secure Legislation prohibiting the
expectations of munitions Of war from
the United States to the anti-Teutonic
allies. They are actuated by feeling
7of affection for the country of their
paternity and are unquestionably sim
cere in their belief that by putting
ban upon this trade the United States
: will exercise 4 marked influence in
bringing the war to an early conclusion.
But their propaganda. which has been
SO vigorously undertaken in the House.
has it's perils. which should be taken
into account at this time before trouble
results.
L 1t is a well recognized fact that, not
withstanding the Presidents proclama-
tion of neutrality, the preponderance of
American sentiment is favorable to the
allies. Whether this feeling arises
from any general pro-national or anti
national sentiment or has been the re-
suit of indignation at the treatment of
Belgium is not to the point. The fact
remains that it exists and it cannot be
disputed, and it should not be forgotten
at the present time, when SO earnest
an effort is being made to have Con-
Hress put ban upon munition exports.
The danger is that if this endeavor is
pressed it will be resisted in the House
and perhaps in the Senate by those who
do not sympathize with the views and
feelings of the present proponents
the prohibition. 1t is most undesirable
that there should be any open debate
IN Congress on the subject of American
neutrality in general or in detail, for
1t would be impossible to conduct such
a debate without the utterance of ex-
pressions of partisanship which would
be perhaps notification of the Presi-
dents proclamation of neutrality.
Thus far during the war the subject
has been avoided in Congress with a
care that is remarkable in the circum-
stances. 1t has been the tabooed topic,
which members have refrained from
discussing in a spirit of loyalty to the
Presidents proclamation and with
scrupulous desire to avoid any possi-
Ability of involving the United States in
any degree in the great calamity. So
strict has been this silence upon the
subject of American sympathy for one
side or the other that at times partisans
of the opposing nations have been re-
SApSSl2A6 SOHhc lTduh utter
ance Of feelings in harmony with their
own.
Legislation such as is now sought
cannot be conceived as possible. If, rs
1t Is urged. the stoppage of munitions
would lend the war in ninety days" in
favor of Germany, such an action would
be In the most pronounced degree and
IN itself violation of neutrality. On
the other hand, 1t cannot be believed
that the expectation of American muni-
tons is SO material factor in the war
that its prohibition would cause the
collapse of the campaign of the allies.
Undoubtedly these supplies are of as
sistance to Germany's foes. just as such
supplies would be of assistance to Ger
many If the situation were reversed and
that country had command of the seas
II at the outset of the war, coinciden-
tally with the firing Of the first shot, the
United States had peremptorily stopped
all munition exports, there would have
been some ground to claim that this
was strictly justifable act of neu-
'trality. But for the United States now,
at the present stage of the campaign,
to move in this direction would be to
declare partisanship.
This cannot be done, and to press for
1t Is to invite a discussion which can
only be harmful and may be disastrous.