Evening star., 1935-11-07
nr.uher n, the Associated Press.
Peace and Neutrality.

situation, Secretary Hull last night dis
eussed American foreign policy in terms
destined to have immense influence on
the United States relations with the
outside world in time of war. The Sec
retary of State, obviously voiclng the
Administrations views, advocates more
"virile" program of neutrality, one "tem-
pered with prudent caution" and having
ALWAYS in mind the United States desire
to avoid embodiment in conflicts with
which we have no direct concern" but
a policy that goes beyond sitting idly
by and watching the development OF
hostilities with a feeling OF selt-sutt-
cheney and complacency."
MIR. Hull contends that a detached
attitude of that sort is incompatible with
either our interest or our duty as great
power. He holds it to be this country's
obligation to itself and to humanity not
merely to remain aloof from non-Amerl-
can disputes, "but also to use our inf1u-
ence in any appropriate way to bring
about the peaceful settlement OF inter-
national differences" To this end, 1t
Is the Secretary of States opinion that
1--WE should not concentrate entirely on
means for remaining neutral and lose
sight of other constructive methods OF
avoiding involvement in wars between
other countries"
Reduced to the essentials bearing upon
the Italo-E Ethiopian war, the Hull address
can only mean that the administration
Is dissatisfied with the rigid provisions
of the arms embargo resolution enacted
bv Congress in August. 1t is an open
secret that President Roosevelt, instead
of that restricted mandatory authority,
desired discretionary power in applying
embargoes in point of time and against
either or both parties to a war. 1t is
apparently now the Governments in
tention to ask Congress for this wider
prerogative and also-perhaps primarily
for authority to embargo conditional
contraband, such as cotton, oil, foodstuffs
and other sineWS as vital to conduct
of war as shot and shell. Possibly the
Hull manifesto was inspired in part by
the disclosure that American oil sales
to Italy in August and September, 1885,
increased by six hundred per cent, COM
pared with the same months of 1884. The
oil industry reveals no inclination to
heed the Presidents warning that Ameri-
can citizens deal with belligerents exclu-
sively at their own risk.
Secretary Hull properly emphasizes
that an arms embargo is mo complete
panacea" for avoidance of war or OBJ
servance of neutrality, or even the prir-
cipal way. He considers that transac-
tions of any kind between American ma
tionals and a belligerent may con-
ceivably lead to difficulties of one sort
or another, because efforts of this Gov
ernment to protect these nationals
, might provoke serious complications.
The arms embargo resolution runs
until the end of February. Between
now and then the Nation will have op-
portunity to consider the proposition of
more elastic neutrality which Secretary
Hull submits 1t has boundless reason
and merit on its side, provided the
American people mean their protesta-
tions of the United States interest in
world peace to be accepted at full face
value. Fifty-odd nations, comprising
the bulk of civilized mankind, are now
united in an effort to curb declared
aggressor by isolating Italy economically
and financially. 1t would be an utter
negation of our asserted passion for
peace if, by circumventing League sane
tions in the name of unlimited profits
for American trade we were to make it
possible for Mussolini to conquer Ethi-
-. opia in brutal defiance of international
law and of the worlds demand for
pacific settlement of disputes among
peoples.
Secretary Hull has enunciated a doc
trine in keeping with American tradi-
tions and ideals. 1t is bound, except
perhaps among incorrigible isolationists,
to strike a responsive chord throughout
the country.