Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
Hoover's Food Ship Proposal
Called Subject for Debate

President Hoover's Armistice day sug-
gestion that all food ships should be
placed in the class with hospital ships
and enjoy freedom Of the seas in time
of war is almost universally praised for
, its humanitarian purpose, but is gener-
, ally valued for its academic rather than
its practical significance.
From time immemor1al," 1t is point
ed out by the Omaha World-Herald.
nations at war have insisted on the
right to starve the enemy into submiS-
sion. Mr.. Hoover IS proposing an en-
tirely new standard for international
law, but one that will meet the ap-
prevail of enlightened peoples. For war
is the most absurd activity of men. It
Is the coStliest. least decisive method of
settling international disputes. I"
Mr.. HooverS address clearly revealed
the aspirations Of the American people"
THE nations in position to establish
blockades," in the opinion of the New
Orleans Times-Picayune. will be re-
luctant to surrender that weapon, even
In the limited degree suggested by the
American President. Yet the reasons
he cites in favor of making food ships
free OF all wartime interference are
sound and persuasive and gradually may
break down the resistance to his idea. !"
The Salina Journal speaks in harmony
not only at the front, but back of the
lines of besieged and hardly pressed ma
lions often has appeared that grim.
gaunt and terrible Specter, starvation.
working its inroadS on those who are
not only in no manner responsible, but
are powerless to help themselves"
y \
1.-THE President seizes the opportunity
to start currents of world thought"
says the Spokane Spokesman Review,
that may bring about a more humane
control OF war and higher regard for
the rights of non-belligerentS. It is sig
nificant that cordial approval comes
from Germany, that the British seem
to have an open mind, that French off,
clal comment is lacking and that a dis
cordant note comes from Italy" The
Memphis Commercial-Appeal offers the
warning: Realistic in his general atti-
tude, the President here engages in a
flight OF idealiSm. When the war drums
throb. belligerents are strangely indif-
ferent to starving their foes, as they are
to poisoning wells and bombing hos
pitfalls and defenSeleSS cities. War is
hell and always will be hell"
1T will be a difficult matter to con-
fine war to the combatants and the
actual makers and tranSporters of mu-
nitionS. even by agreement on paper"
AZ Ile opinion Oh the Grand RAPIDS
Press, but adds that "NIr. Hoover
launches an enterprise enlisting the
mind as well as the heart" The Little
Rock Arkansas Democrat states: One
OF the powerful influences for arma-
nent races between nations, he said, is
the fear that sea-borne supplies will be
interrupted. It is significant that he
did not propose the plan, but merely
suggested it." The Fargo Forum calls
the Presidents position astounding for
the commander-in-chief of a great
Army and Navy to take" since block
ade of country. as means to forcing
defeat from within, always has been
considered a strategic and necessary
thing. Mr.. Hoover believes an in
ternational law permitting food ships to
sail the seas under the same protec-
ton afforded hospital ships will lessen
the dangers of war. Certainly it would
limit war, and that is important"
X y -
"Only man born with a passion for
peace in his breast only one who has
seen world war at close hand and
striven to mitigate its distreSses almost
within sound of its guns" asserts the
Cincinnati Times-Star, could have
thought and spoken as Herbert Hoover
did in his Armistice day speech. 1t Is a
great address, great alike in substance