The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-06-29
Solving the Embargo QUESTION

ical pressure to bear on the govern
ment to stop the export of war muni-
tions. The promoters, who are said to
be Detroit. Toledo and Cleveland men,
are far more frank and bold in their
declaration than the leaders of the
German-Amcrican Alliance. lt is TO be-
without equiyocation, something this
nation has never HAD before, league
of citizens formed long racial lines
German, Austrian and Bohemian-to
act in domestic politics under the in
spiration of foreign quarrel.
we know" says the advance notice
calling for a meeting in July, that
the United States has a formal right
to export arms and ammunition, but
also has a moral obligation toward
us who form the largest racial element
Of the country. We know that human
ity demands an embargo on arms and
munitions. Our feelings are hurt. aye,
we are insulted by the fact that our
government Intentionally oyerloOks its
moral obligations. How could that
happen? The answer is, we are not
strong enough politically.
strength only commands respect.
IL the German.Amcrican element had
been organized as sold unit last
fall, we would now have an embargo
on the export of arms and munitions.
Now or never, we believe, is the time
TO unity the German-Amcrican element
for this purpose. II shall be a tempo
rary union for The sole purpose Of solv-
ing the embargo question"
The main objection to this move
ment, as other Americans see It, is
that Solving the embargo question
as these citizens want 1t solved APP
pears simply to mean helping Ger
many TO to win" The leaders, less
tactful than those of the German
American Alliance, do not put their
demand primarily on humanitarian
grounds. and do not pretend to be
neutral. They speak frankly as pro
Germans. They have taken sides in
the war and they demand, as the
largest racial element in the country
that the government take sides with
them rather than with those whose
sympathics are with the allies.
For reasons often given, ana now
almost universally understood, 1t ism |
likely that the government VIII be
moved to change it's policy by such
considerations. But if the nation at
large were t. consider the matter &C.
cording to its sympathies, as these eat
izens are doing, IN the light OF calcu-
lated military advantage TO one side
or the other, il might carry on the dis
cussion on some such basis as this:
Germany doesn't need our munitions
and the allies do. Germany has plen'
ty of arms and ammunition (n be
cause she prepared thoroughly for This
war beforehand, and (2l because she
has possession of nearly all OF Frances
coal and iron mines. blast furnaces
aud factories II she didn't have that
great mining and manufacturing sec
ton OF northern France, the two sides
would be on a more nearly equal foot.
ing AS regards munitions.
Now, how did Germany obtain that
great advantage? Plainly by striking
at France suddenly, Unexpectedly and
unfairly. through neutral Belgium. in
disregard of her own solemn pledge.
instead of attacking France legitimate.
~ through her stronglytortiTied east
ern border Tha; sto,en advantage
probably compensates Germany for
any advantage the allies may possess,
now or hereafter. through access to
our munitions market,
Let us compromise, then. Let Ger
many give up the French coal and iron
mines and munitions factories which
she has no moral right to, and the
United States viii stop shipping TO the
allies the munitions which these eli.
gens maintain the allies have no moral
right TO-
We have u sort OF moral right, it
might he argued, to make such a prop
osition, because the United States was
one OF the sisns;ory powers that guar