Evening star., 1934-12-16
State Department Will Lay
Plans for Legislation
Before Roosevelt.
COMMERCE PROTECTION
WOULD BE WITHDRAWN
Removal of Frictions Growing
Out of Neutrality in Major
War Aim of Proposal.
BY THEODORE C. WALLEN.

The State Department has virtually
completed study of means to keep
the United States out of wars between
other nations. 1t is to be laid before
President Roosevelt with recommenda-
tions for legislation in the Congress to
convene next month.
Under way since last Spring, the
official study is aimed to give the
United States, in peace time legisla-
ton and planning, the benefit of its
experience in the last war The
central thought Is to eliminate as
many as possible of the many irrita-
tions and frictions which involved
the United States between belligerents
in the World War long before it
actually joined the allied cause.
There is very little support in the
administration for continued insist
ence on the neutral rights" which
involved the United States in that
conflict. 1t is contended that
neutrality has no place in the scheme
of the 60-odd League of Nations states
which are pledged to unite against an
aggressor state.
Neutrality May Cause Friction.
The comprehensive plan Of the
State Department has been developed
on the theory that the very condition
of neutrality is capable Of engendering
frictions which nowadays might i'm
plicate a powerful neutral in any war
in which the great powers might
engage.
1t is understood that the plan con-
templates the present enactment Of
well-considered statutes which could
be called into operation by presidential
proclamation, or otherwise, in the
event Of war. These would be di-
rected to the maintenance of Ameri-
cas- future neutrality and also to the
avoidance Of the frictions otherwise
certain to grow out Of the neutrality
and possibility to make the United
States IN unwilling combatant.
The discussions have centered around
plan to invest the President with
broad discretionary powers to be exer-
cised toward preserving American
neutrality when other great powers,
especially naval powers, 60 to war.
Would Withdraw Protection.
1t has been suggested, in the State
Department discussions, at least, that
the President, in the event of war
between others, might be authorized
among other things, to serve notice
that American shipping would go into
danger zones at its own peril. 1t would
be tantamount to withdrawing the
rrnfarfiny, nf ha Init 70 Nox
for American shipping at such times
This, in turn, would modify the theory
that the United States Navy should
protect American commerce every
where
1t would be left to the Presidents
discretion whether to take such a
course.
Administration officials, in their
study of the problem, have recognized
that not single neutral right asserted
by the United States has been recog-
nized officially by Great Britain,
France. Italy or Germany. to any
greater extent than it was between Au-
gust, 1914, and April, 1917.
1t is felt that there is not much
point in talking about neutral rights
which no other nation comedies. The
argument prevails in administration
circles that in any future war between
the great powers each belligerent will
deal with neutral trade in whatever
manner may seem necessary to achieve
victory.
Warren's View Considered.
The whole subject is recognized as
one of the most delicate and important
in American foreign policy Since it is
being approached in the light of the
country's experiences in the last war,
much thought has been given to the
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