The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-02-20
BD JAMES D. WHELAN


Is presented with a proposition to de-
part from the solemn warning of Pres
ident George Washington against en-
tangling alliance with the powers of
Europe, it is well to compare condi-
lions now existing with those which
confronted the Father of His Coun-
try" when he wrote the Farewell Adj
dress which has been the cornerstone
of our foreign policy to the present
day. Such consideration should be
given without prejudice or predispo-
sitiOn, in order that we may retain
this historic policy permanently
should it prove reasonable to do so,
and that we should observe due eau
ton in the method of departing from it
should it be shown that the maxims on
which this policy is based are no long
er applicable to our present needs and
to our obligations to ourselves and to
civilization.
When Washington wrote his Fare
well Address the state of the nation
and of the world was strikingly SINH
lar TO their condition today. On the
continent of Europe numerous ma
lions with widely divergent interests
were combined against one central
power, and these were assisted by
England with her immense navy, for
even then the motto britannia Rules
the Waves was an international
commonplace. The problems of inter-
national law with reference to the sale
of contraband and of search and seiz-
ure which confront us now, confront
ed them. Thomas Jefferson as secre-
tary of state in the Washington cabi-
net wrote in 1895 replying to a pro-
test from England: Our citizens have
glxvaNrc haap =,
export arms. To suppress their call
ings, the only means, perhaps of the
subsistence because a war exists in
foreign and distant countries in which
we have no concern, would scarcely
be expected 1t would be hard in prin-
ciple and impossible in practice The
law OF nations, therefore, respecting
the rights of those at peace does not
require from them such internal de-
rangements in their occupations. 1t
is satisfied with the external penalty.
pronounced in the Presidents procla-
nation, that of confiscation OF such
portions of these arms as shall fall in
to the hands of any of the belliger-
ent powers on their way to the ports
of their enemies"
The following year, Timothy Picker
ing, who succeeded Jefferson as sec
rotary of state insisted on the |
same principle in reply to a protest |
from France and to prove that the |
procedure was in accordance with in
ternational law, quoted Vattel as
follows: THE right of neutrals to
trade in articles cOntraband of war is
clearly established; in the first, by
selling to warning powers who come
to the neutral countries to buy them;
in the second, by neutral subjects or
citizens carrying them to the coun-
tries of the powers at war and there
selling them" From this policy the
United States has never varied and |
the right outlined above has been re-
lterated in the case of every war be- |
tween nations abroad. 1t received for
nal international sanction in Article |
Seven of the Second Peace Conference |
at The Hague, century later, as fol- |
lows: "A neutral power is not bound
to prevent the export or transit in be-
half of one or other of the belliger-
ents of arms, munitions of war, or, in
general, OF anything which can be of
use to an army or fleet"
Disregarding the laws of nations
and the rights of neutrals as outlined
by text writer's and insisted on by
American statemen, the warning ma
tons, then as now, had searched and
captured our ships, and, what they
no longer do, had impressed our sea-
men, 1t was while in a state Of mind
resulting from this condition of affairs
that President Washington wrote his
famous farewell. 1t did not occur to
him that we should join either faction
because the other had acted unjustly
With patience that brought upon him
unlimited denunciation he protested
against injustice while striving 10
avoid war unless imperatively neces-
Sary Because he strOve for peace"
say Van Tyne, che was roundly abus-
ed in terms scarcely suited to a Nero
notorious defaulter, or even a com
mon pickpocket 1t saddened but did
not change him." At no time did
Washington take a position favoring
peace at any price" He knew that
war would probably come but left I'M
exhausted no diplomatic means to
avoid it. But he realized that there
was so much injustice on both sides
abroad that to become entangled in an
alliance abroad we must stand to
some extent for injustice perpetrated
by the league with which we would
Identify ourselves, so he preferred to
stand for America and American rights
alone
The application of this principle
was made during the administration
of his successor. When French pri-
vateers, whose acts while less bar
barous were analogous to those in the
U-boats, with increasing daring and
rapacity preyed on our merchantmen,
President John Adams called out an
army with Washington at its head and
sent our fleet to protect our merchant
marine, while merchant ships we're
defensively armed.
Three regular French warships and
many privateers were captured or
destroyed but we declared no war
formally and we made no alliance
with England or with the continental