South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-28
SOLVING EMBARGO QUESTION,

SOLVING EMBARGO QUESTION
II is announced that a new organi
zation OF broad scope and great powe
is 70 be formed in this country for tn
express purpose Of bringing poliuca
pressure 70 bear on the government {,
stop the export OF war muitions. Tn,
promoters. who are said 10 be Detroit
Toledo and Cleveland men, are Ia
more FRANK and bold in their declara
tiCns than the leaders Of the German
American alliance. IL Is 20 be, withou
equiyocation. something this nation
has never had before. a league Of citi.
zens formed along racial lines-Ger-
man. Austrian and Bohemian-to act
in domestic politics under the inspira-
ton Of foreign quarrel The advance
notice calling for a meeting in July
says.
We know that the United
States has Il formal right 10 eX-
port arms and ammunition. but il
mas also a moral obligation to-
ward Us who form the largest
racial element OF the country.
We know that humanity demands
an en- barge on arms and muni-
uons. our feelings are hurt. aye,
We are insglted by the fact that
our government Intentionally
overlOoks its moral obligations.
How could that happen? The
answer is. We are not strong
enough politically.
strength only commands re-
spcct II the German-Amcrican
oicG.ent had been organized as a
flfI
have an embargo on the export Of
arms and munitions. Now or
never. Wa believe, is the time 10
unity the German-American Gle
mcnt for this purpose. II shall be
temporary union for the sole
purpose of solving the embargo
question.
The main objection To this move
mcnt. as other Americans see il, is
that solving the embargo question "
as these citizens want il solved ap-
pears simply TO mean helping Ger
many to win" The leaders, less tact
ful than those of the Germau-Amer-
lean 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 i'm the country" that the gov
eminent take sides with them. rather
than with those whose sympathies are
with the allies.
For reasons often given. and now
almost universally understood. il isn't
likely that the government will be
moved TO change its policy by such
considerations. But if the nation at
large were 10 consider the matter ac-
cording to its sympathies, as these
citizens are doing. i'm the light of cal
culated military advantage to one side
or the other it might carry on the
discussion on some such basis as this:
Germany doesn't need our muni-
tions, and the allies do. Germany has
plenty of arms and ammunition CD
because she prepared thoroughly for
the war beforehand and CD because
she has possession Of nearly ell of
Frances coal and iron mines. blast
furnaces and factories. If she didn't
have that great mining and manufac-
turing section OF northern France. the
two sides would be ON a more nearly
equal footing as regards munitions.
Now how did Germany obtain that
great advantage Plainly by striking
at France suddenly. Unexpectedly and
unfairly, through neutral Belgium. i'm
disregard of her own solemn pledge.
instead of attacking France legit-
mateIy through her strousIy fortified
eastern border That stolen advant-
age probably compensates Germany
for any advantage the allies may pos
sess. now or hereafter. through access
to our munitions market
Let as 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 10 the
allies the munitions which these citi-
zens maintain the allies have no moral
right TO.
We have sort OF moral right it
might be argued, TO make such prop
osition, because the United states was
one of the sisnatory powers that guar
anteed the neutrality of Belgium. Per
haps the United states is even under
s. moral obligation TO protest against
the wrong done France leg hitting
her below the belt" through an inyas-
ion from her poorly protected north
ern border.
For the sake of friendly discussion.
anyhow, what have the advocates OF
the new German-Austrian-H Hungarian
American party for political action
got 20 say 90 this proposition?