The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-30
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THE neutrality resolutions adopted by Con-
l. gress are highly commendable and extreme
ly timely. With the world possibly on the verge
Of another general conflict, We can not take steps
too promptly or too sweepingly in order to hold
the United States aloof from being played for
a sucker once more in the pulling Of European
chestnuts out Of the fire
These neutrality resolutions go far in the
way of taking away the possibility of extensive
profits from European war on the part of Amer
lean industrialists This is secured through
embargOes on the export of materials to bel
ligerents and other associated limitations on the
transportation of arms abroad. The reSou-
tons also will prevent reckless American citi-
zens from involving their country in war be-
cause they choose, on their own responsibility,
to take the risk of travelling on the ships of
belligerent nations.
The World War reminds us all too sharply
of the necessity for taking as many steps as
possible and as promptly as We can, in order to
preserve neutrality amidst The strains and
stresses of world warfare. We can not trust
to the strength of character or discretion of any
chief executive.
TN 1914 Woodrow Wilson seemed an almost
l. ideal President to keep us out of war. He
said at the outset of the World War that he
could see little difference between the case of
the Central Powers and that of the Allies Col.
Houses observations from Europe i'll the spring
ton. At heart Mr.. Wilson hated war, and his
first wife was a confirmed pacifist. Mr.. Wilson
declared that American citizens must be neutral
in thought as well as action. There is little rea-
son for doubling that Mr.. Wilson was thoroughly
sincere in his declaration of neutrality at the
time when he MADE it.
But his prejudiceS the course Of events and
new developments in his personal affairs grad
ually got in their work until, by the spring of
1917 Mr.. Wilson declared confdentially to Sec
rotary Tumulty that he had never at any time
been really neutral in his attitudes or policies.
And he doubtless believed that also.
Mr.. Wilson'S cultural background and in
terests were strictly and almost exclusively
Anglo-Arnerican. He knew little about and had
little interest in TeutOnic civilization. Hence, 1t
was not strange that after time he openly
expressed himself in cabinet meetings as believ-
ing that Great Britain fighting a war OF
civilization against barbarism.
While desiring at the outset to enforce in
ternational law impartialy, Wilson ultimately
backed down almost completely in the lace OF
British violations of international law almost
without precedent in human history for volume,
diversity and audacity.
the same time he held Germany up to
N "strict accountability" for all her violations
of international law, which were less numerous
than those of Great Britain. Mr.. Wilson was
apparently unmoved by Germanys offer to Sus-
pend all submarine warfare II Great BRITAIN
would raise her blockade. Mr.. Bryan clearly
pointed out his inconsistency here in striking
ana logical letter to the President sent on April
%, 1915.
Nor was Mr.. Wilson interested in observing
that Germany was clearly within her legal rights
in sinking the Lusitania and that the American
citizens who lost their lives in the episode mad
neither a legal moral claim to any pro-
test from their government.
The death of the first wife removed strong
force for peace end neutrality from Mr.. Will
sons life Then the messanic bug" seemed to
get hold Of him and he told Jane Adams shortly
before we entered the war that he must be at
the Peace Conference in order to bring ABOUT a
Just settlement And he could not be there I'M
less we entered the great conflict.
So in April, 1917 Mr.. Wilson declared that this
country, God helping her, could do no other
than to enter the carnage to draw the entente
chestnuts from the fire. And, returning to the
White House, he told Mr.. Tumulty that ever
since 1914 he had planned to put the country
into the war as soon as public opinion would
follow him.
All this goes to show that we not put
our trust entirely i'll the best of men and the
best of intentions.
And the facts of 1914 also make it clear that
we must not only put an embargo upon the
shipment of arms but also upon our financing of
either group of belligerents. Probably no single
force was so powerful in leading us into war as
the ramfied pressure OF the firm of j. P Nor
Gan. which had financed the Allies up to 1917.
And this firm had never been neutral. AS Thorn
as w Lamont said in moment of indis
crete candor:
neutral, we didn't know how to be. From the
very start we did everything could to con-
tribute to the cause of the Allies