The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-04
2HE UNITED STATES AND NEU-
TRALITY.
suggestion That This Country Refuse TO
Let Fore Ign War Loans Be FlOatcd Here.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str. When
war broke out In Europe In 1898. involv-
ing Great Britain, France and several
other nations, the United States under the
leadership OF Washington and Jefferson
set up new rules Of neutrality to regulate
the relations OF the young American re-
public with the belligerent Powers.
Those new rules, such as refusing TO
allow privateers to be armed In our ports
by any of the belligerents. for example.
were far in advance of the practice and
conception OF neutral duties then in
vogue. But those new rules served ef-
fectually to prevent the United States
from becoming embroiled In the war.
In addition, the new standard OF neutral
duties then set UP by Washington and
Jefferson In the policy of maintaining
the neutrality OF the United States pro-
foundry Influenced the development OF the
law of neutrality and so helped to localize
subsequent wars and curtail the spread Of
belligerent operations. The United States
In aiding themselves at that time also
bestowed for later times a blessed boon
on the world In strengthening and de-
veloping the law OF neutrality.
So now the United States of America
under the direction OF President Wilson
and Secretary Bryan, by refusing TO al
low any belligerent Government to float
war loan in this country can help ma
terially to shorten the war that Is about
" Dt Wdkeu ONtT dlfflOst VI 1DuIDIts
Such a measure in this instance will be
all the more effective to curtail the war
period. as this country at the present
time Is tho only place in the world prob
ably whore the great Powers of Europe
can hope TO buy large additional credits
TO help maintain their military and
naval forces In action.
II President Wilson and the New York
Stock Exchange will take the lead In
refusing TO sanction the selling and buy
ing of the bonds OF war loans in this
country In any OF the exchanges, they
will serve the interests of the nation as
well as the cause OF civilization by
shortening tho period OF destruction Of
both life and wealth into which Europe is
plunging.
The more the nations OF Europe destroy
one another the more our best customers
will DO impoverished and the more the
people OF this country will feel the ad-
verse results which will follow the de-
struction OF wealth in Europe upon a
colossal scale, a destruction OF wealth as
complete as was that on much smaller
scale caused by the earthquakes at San
Francisco and Valparaiso.
In addition, II we now refuse as a
neutral nation to allow war loans to he
| foated In our exchanges, and can per-
suade Argentina, Brazil Chile and the
other South American Powers to Join us
| In such a policy, such action on the .art
of the American nations would almost
certainly grow into a binding rule for
neutral Powers to follow in the future and
| a powerful weapon against the breaking
out of war in the future would have been
forged.
| This country, as a neutral. surely has a
| right TO protect itself by refusing to sup
| ply tho means for the prolongation of the
| insane struggle which scents about to
engulf Europe and her civilization.
THOMAS WILLING BALcH.
ATLANTIC CITY, y. j., August 2.