The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-11-20
Hoover Not Upheld in Europe

Just as expected, the Hoover proposal for freedom
OF the seas receives hardly any encouragement from
Europe. Its humanitarianism is acknowledged. otherwise
it is being. not shaped on the anvil Of discussion as the
president had suggested 1t might be, but hammered good
and hard on the anvil OF opposition.
One country SO far has put forth affirmative comment
and expressed the belief that it would prove an important
step toward world peace, but this country being Austria
which no longer has a seacoast, the approval is academic
but otherwise negligible.
Ono reason Why Austrian public opinion las SO warm
~ greeted the American presidents scheme is the fact
that it was under Hoovers aegis that the first food trains
brought the long awaited relief to central Europe. 1t Is
even being suggested today that the presidents plan Is
a natural result Of his postwar experiences in Austria.
where he saw the misery caused by the food blockade
"thc white death
When one turns to England, a chorus Of polite and
solemn dissent is encountered. The chief objection OF
English critics 10 the proposal is that giving food ships
tho status OF hospital ships would prove too great a
handicap in enforcing an economic blockade against al
aggrcssor state. This solicitude for the functioning of the
League OF Nations is even more strongly urged in France
The British view was expressed very explicitly by Pro-
fcssor Gilbert Murray, vino. while admitting the proposal
was strongly to the interest Of Great Britain, added tina:
other important considerations are to be kept In mind.
First, II any war occurs. 1t will almost certainly be IN
breach OF the League covenant or the Kellogg pact. Con-
sequently. the solution Of the supply problem will be
difficult. No signatory of the covenant or pact should
supply or allow IL NATIONALS - supply d CEAHliudI SOv>
eminent engaged in war in breach of its treaties"
In a letter to the Manchester Guardian, Philip Kerr
says President Hoovers address shows the dilemma the
United States. like all other countries, Is in since the
ratification Of the Kellogg pact.
II they live up to their pledge" he adds, the ques-
ton of neutral versus belligerent rights will never arise
and ornaments are unnecessary save for international
police purposes. Yet they clearly are uncertain whether
the pac. will be observed or not.
so the president. while objecting to the use of an
international force for the prevention Of war. asks Tor
ornaments for national sclf-defcnsc and asks the cxemp-
ton Of food ships III time OF war, which implies his be-
lief that private war is going to continue as before. II
private war is to continue, the food ship proposal will
fail, though it seems OF national advantage to Grea.
Britain, for the reason that all efforts to humanize war
by treaty have failed and will continue to fail SO long
as nations arc fighting for their lives. unless neutrals
are willing to go to war to enforce them.
Being able to feed itself in war, France, as comment
reflects its opinion. secs in the proposal the political
fault that it would paralyze the League of Nations eco
feeding, an outlaw nation which had broken the Kellogg
pact, the other countries would be only enabling the
nation to defy efforts to punish 1t.
It is not dmitted that a line could be drawn between
feeding women and children and feeding an army which,
had embarked on aggression. In fact, the opinion most
generally heard in the French capital is that the Hoover
plan would encourage war rather than discourage it, b.
cause prospective aggressors could make their plans IN
the assurance that they would be fed regardless Of how
much they outlawed themselves. AS for making war
humanitarian. the French say out Of a wealth Of expert
cncc that it cannot be done.
The Figaro observes that the speech Of the prcsi.
dent ruins the only chance the League OF Nations has
for action against q people guilty Of making war;
Pertinax, In LEcho de Paris, points out that In the
World war Germany was largely defeated by the block
ade. President Hoover's plan would be, he thinks, a
great encouragement to any nation planning aggression
ITO have its food supplies guaranteed by the Amcri-
can fleet would be too easy" he says. IF President
Hoover believes so much in the efficacy Of public opin-
lon Why does he not abolish all w%arships?"
The Quotidicn says war is outlawcd and must be fought
by all arms, Of which the blockade is a valuable one. Ma
lions planning war must face famine as well as poison
gas, 1t thinks.
The Homme Lihrc says that In the World war Amer
lea tried moral suasion on Germany but that It was
much less eficacious than the 100000 soldiers she sent
70 the battlefield.