The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-21

N/IIH no turther pretenSe at bluffing
Britain is massing all her available might
in the vicinity Of the Mediterranean and Red
Seas II Duce's forces there have been ma
neuvered into position.
Grim flnality marks the speeches of Lon
don and Rome. Neither seems to have left
any loophole for retreat. British subjects are
leaving Italy-just as panicky nationals fled
enemy countries in the summer of 1914. Gold
is fleeing Europe for safe-keeping in New
York. Up and down goes the jittery stock
market as traders scan the war bulletins
Iron nets have closed the harbors Of Glib
raltar, Malta and other ports Candles have
disappeared from the market-grabbed up by
populations after warnings that their cities
may be plunged into darkness at any moment
IN the event Of certain emergencies"
Only the proverbial spark is needed So
tense is the situation that world peace now
is clearly at the mercy of the merest accident.
A misunderstood order, the stupid blunder of
an excited subaltern, might bring on the ex-
plosion.
A ND US? Can we stay out if Europe catches
fire?
Foreign observers say no. And many of
the best informed statesmen in this country
are inclined to agree it would be exceedingly
difficult
In the final hours of the last Congress, a
neutrality law was hurriedly passed with a
view to keeping us out. In the event of war
within the next six months, it requires the
President to issue a proclamation and def
nitely enumerate the arms, ammuntions or
implements of war, the export of which is pro-
hibited."
1t also makes it mandatory upon him to
forbid Americans vessels to carry arms am
munition or implements of war to belligerent
ports or to neutral ports for reshipment, and
all firms engaged in the manufacture importa-
ton or expectation of arms must be licensed.
At his discretion he may prohibit American
citizens from travelng on vessels of beligerent
powers, except at their own risk; prevent the
transport of men or war supplies from Amer
lean ports to war vessels of belligerent nations
outside our territorial waters, and keep bel
ligerent submarines out of our harbors.
1t was a worthy effort to keep this country
from being sucked into the maelstrom now too
obviously near the old world powers. But it
was admittedly only a compromise, a tempo
rary expedient
OUCH a formula doubtless is sufficient to
~ prevent our becoming involved in war
between Italy and Ethiopia Unfortunately.
however, the Italo-Ethiopia conflict seems like
a danger of yesterday. Today it is eclipsed
by the threat of an Anglo-Italian clash which
might set all Europe ablaze
And if Europe blows up as we found in the
World War our danger would instantly become
real indeed. The compromise formula left be-
hind by Congress would likely prove very
flimsy shield.
1t does not prohibit loans and credits to
belligerents-a costly and dangerous business.
1t ignores the complex problem of trade in
contraband. Our experience in the last war
demonstrated that trade in cotton, wheat and
raw materials-which belligerents included in
their lists of contraband-may prove as dan
gerous to neutrality as trade in guns ard
shells
Congress would be swamped by angry pro-
tests from the cotton, wheat industrial and
export of their products.
TIE best way to keep America out of war"
= declared President Wilson'S Secretary of
War; Newton D. Baker, recently. lis to do what
we can to prevent there being war anywhere
into which she can be drawn"
Close study of history would seem to prove
the truth of this statement. For, once modern
war starts so integrated is our world no hui
man agency can guarantee when or where it
will end.
We. must, therefore, be everlastingly on
guard.