The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-11-01

Next, SnOulQ tnaL Dreak develop, every
nation In Europe is compelled for one
reason or another to align itself with
one side or the other. Hitler, for ex-
ample, would want nothing better than
an opportunity to stir up some trouble
among the other nations in order that
he could spread his power over Aus
tria and Hungary and maybe over
some of the Balkan states. He wants
more territory and If free-for-all
should get started Herr Hitler will
lose no time in subjugating some of the
neighboring countries.
Even If these conditions obtain, my
friends statement that the war Is a
long way off still
Would Hit is correct. 1t would
Our Commerce be three or four
thousand miles from
American shores but the point of diff.
ference is that we are a commercial
nation and ! the European powder keg
explodes our commerce would be af-
fected. Indeed, it would be virtually
destroyed.
But, 1t will be asked, why not live
within our own shell? The answer Is,
we cannot do so. Our ships. carrying
the products of our. farms and facto-
ries, would be plying the seas. Ma
tons at war do not take the time al
ways to learn the character of cargo
aboard ship at sea nor do they In
quire its destination or the purpose
for which 1t Is to be used Then. we
hear Of the overt act. An American
ship with an American crew and an
American cargo Is sunk. Or. Amerl-
can-Owned and manned business units
in some one of the belligerent coun-
tries suffers from one of the various
things that takes place during the war.
1t may be the act Of some hot-headed
foreign national or it may be DELHI
crate move by government. but the
die Is cast. An American citizen Is
killed. an American flag Is insulted.
We are In 1t.
Il seems to me, therefore, that we
have every reason to watch closely
those developments abroad. Our own
people are not blameless for some of
tie conditions that develop. For in
stance. the following day after Mr..
Roosevelt issued his proclamation pro-
hibiting exports of arms and NUM-
lions and, by inference, prohibiting
dealings of any kind with Italy and
Ethiopia, New York exporters rose
with mighty howl and the Port De-
velopment Authority In New York pro-
tested. One group saw all opportuni
ties for profitable business stricken
out by the prohibition against exports
and the other, with proper civic pride,
complained that the executive action
would wreck New York city as mari
time center. Their complaints were
natural, quite human, but their refusal
to accept the national policy simply
represents one of the many things con-
shutting an early step that may sub
sequently be one of the foundation
stones of war.
l do not mean to say in these col
umns that we should become peace
at-any-price nation. Oh the contrary,
think that is cowardly position for
any nation to take. What ! do empha-
size. however, is that ii we are to have
ar international policy, we should adj
here to 1t.
Now, let us consider the govern
mental problem. i said earlier that
congress undoubtedly
Neutrality had acted in accord
Edicf ance with the views
of a majority of our
people. President Roosevelt has chosen
to accept the neutrality resolution as
4 mandate from congress which gives
MIN almost no discretion. His arms
embargo, his shipping prohibition and
his warning to American citizens that
If they travel on boats belonging to the
belligerent powers they do so at their
own risks was the narrowest construc-
ton possible to have been placed on
the neutrality edict of congress.
Congress IL not III session and will
not be back here AGAR until January.
The Presidents hands are tied unless
he decides to call congress into extra
session and that, of course, will not
he done unless sudden flames OF war
sweep over the whole world. Therefore,
If Mr.. Roosevelt clings to the policy
which he has adopted In narrowly con-
STRUNG the neutrality resolution until
the congressional session opens In
January, congress can do no more than
commend him for following Its dictates.
But If any of the conditions enumer-
ated above should place the American
neutrality position where q test must
be had, congress must accep; the
blame. So, as long as MIR. Roosevelt
follows his present course and throws
himself completely on the law, the
President can make short answer to
those who would enlist this country
in International action. That position,
of course, has its weaknesses because
something ma develop overnight with
which he cannot deal under an inflex-
,ble law hut, on the other hand, the
fact that he can do little without call