Evening star., 1929-06-29
Peace and Business.

War and the possibility OF war are
always threats to business. Armed con-
fiict between nations, or within nation,
throws into chaos the channels OF COM
merce and thousands Of business men
meet ruin where comparatively few war
millionaires" spring up. Some OF
Americas leading business men, dele
gates to the convention of the Interna-
tional Chamber of Commerce which is
soon to open in Amsterdam, plan to
bring before that body proposal that
the business men of the world band
themselves together in the interests Of
international peace. The suggestion may
come concretely In resolution provid-
ing that the business men of all the
countries which ratify the Kellogg null
tilsteral treaty renouncing war as a
method Of settling international differ
ences agree to do no business with any
nation which violates the treaty.
The proposal is no more nor less
than an economic boycott, directed
against the nation or nations which take
up arms in violation of the Kellogg
treaty. Instead OF the governments Of
the nations signatory to the treaty un-
dertaking to carry out such a boycott,
the business men are to be called upon
to do so. 1t seems on its face rather a
visionary proposition. It takes two ma
tions. or more, to make war. One Of
the nations is the aggressor. The other
acts on the defensive. Usually both
claim they are waging defensive war
fare. There is nothing in the Kellogg
treaty which prohibits a nation from
taking up arms to defend itself. If at
tackled. The guilt of violating the treaty,
If it is violated. therefore, falls upon the
aggressor nation. The business men Of
the world must determine, under the
plan now advanced by some of the
American delegates to the International
Chamber of Commerce, which nation is
the aggressor. That may be difacult
and delicate task. 1t may be that the
business men of one nation place the
guilt on one combatant, while the BUSH
other combatant has forced war and
violated the treaty.
Several months ago a resolution was
introduced in the Senate of the United
States by Senator Capper of Kansas
proposing to put teeth" into the Kel-
logg treaty by having the nations ad-
herring to the treaty refrain from SELL
ing arms or munitions of war to any
luton was widely discussed at the
time. The fear was expressed that the
President of the United States, acting
for this country, would have to deter
mine which was the aggressor nation,
thereby practically involving us in war
The proposal was abandoned, at least
for the time being, and nothing was
done about it. There has been a dis
tinct feeling In this country that Amer
lea should not undertake to joir in eco
nomic boycotts such as that proposed
The Kellogg treaty was drawn as sim
ply as possible, providing for no use of
force, economic or otherwise against a
nation which might violate the treaty.
Had it been otherwise, the Senate would
in all probability have rejected it.
The desire for world peace and its
permanent maintenance is strong. It
crops out in many ways. The susges-
ton now advanced by American busi-
ness men that the merchants of the
world undertake to enforce it, while 1t
may not be practical, at least is an in
dication Of the demand that war be
thrown into the discard as means Of
settling international disputes. 1t is
this demand, backed up by education Of
the peoples Of the world. which gives
greater promise Of international peace
than treaties or armies or navies.