Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-13
HOOVER SHIP PLAN
HELD IMPRACTICAL
Impression Has Developed
That President Has ChaI-
Ienged League.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Although congressional comment on
the Hoover proposal to make food ships
immune from attack in war time Is
universally favorable, hardly any one
can be found on Capitol Hill VINO be-
lieves the idea practical.
Rather has the impression been oe"
veloped that President Hoover has chal-
lenged the whole structure OF tne
League of Nations, which Is based upon
the economic boycott and blockade. Mr..
Hoover takes the view that the Geneva
League travels the road Of physical force
and that the United States will exert
moral force. The clash comes because
of the certainty that If the American
Government endeavored to protect
commerce in food to the belligerent
countries it would require physical force
to deliver the food through the blockade
of an opposing Navy. Mr.. Hoover, OF
tional agreement can be reached per-
hitting food supplies to go to the non
combatantS in a country at war.
Already the discussion turns not so
much on what would happen in
future war, but what might have hap
pened in the World War II Mr.. Hoover's
proposal had been in effect. II Ger
many could have been assured OF
food supply she might not nave en-
American vessels carrying food to Great
Britain prior to the entry of the United
States into the war. Another hypo-
thesis is that II Germany could have
received food for her civilian population
her army would have been well sustain
ed at the front and the war might have
been prolonged beyond 1918.
Plan Has Difficulties.
Just how food that is intended for
civilians would be kept from reaching
an army is difficult to conjecture. The
general belief here is that very little
will come of the proposal except to
strengthen the British view OF the need
of navy to protect food supply In
the absence Of an international agree
ment.
1t is significant. however, that the
Presidents effort to introduce an HUI
manitarian note in the rules OF war re-
ceived widespread approval from both
Democrats and Republicans in Con-
greSs who were quoted on the subject.
Nevertheless, many of them foresaw a
real diplomatic conflict in Mr.. HooverS
challenge Of the League OF Nations. 1t
was the threat of an economic boycott
which helped to solve a recent outbreak
in Latin America. 1t Is the implied
threat contained in the League OF Ma
lions covenant which is keeping many
of the smaller European nations from
avenging alleged tnjustices by going to
war. The famous debate on article 10
has never ended. While each nation is
the Judge Of whether 1t will join In
furnishing n nation that violates the
covenant of the League or the Kellogg
BRAND treaties, there is no doubt that
physical force is the fundamental
method by which the League Of Nations
has hope to enforce peace.
Mr., Hoover has opened up only
part Of the whole subject To be con-
siStent now the United States in its
efforts to localize war or at least to re-
duce its awfulneSs, will not only be re-
quired to open its food graneries to
civilian populations of belligerent coun-
tries, but will find it difficult to permit
the export OF arms and ammunition or
money to belligerent governments. All
efforts to get the United States to agree
on treaties that would prohibit the ex-
sort of arms and ammunition have hithe
erto failed; the American Government
still reserves the right to, furnish the
sinewS OF war to belligerents.
League Advocates No Aid.
All such questions as what food shall
be exported and whether munitions shall
be provided belligerent countries really
turn upon the question OF whether .
nation that violates its treaties or obli-
cations should have any assistance The
League Of Nations feels that no help of
any kind should be extended and that
the knowledge of possible discomfort to
civilian population has been the most
powerful influence in restraining gov
ernmentS from going to war.
All these questions are bound to be
pursued as a sequel to the London
naval conference with the possible re-
suit that out Of the whole discussion
may come compromise between the
views of the Geneva League and those
OF President Hoover II out of it all
comes any international agreement
which can be universally adopted it will
mean real progress toward international
cooperation. But the biggest hurdle
to surmount is whether the world is to
rely on moral force or is to apply
physical force to prevent conflict as
well as to punish those nations who
go TO war in violation of their obliga-
tons under the Kellogg BRAND treaties.
CCopyright, 1921