Evening star., 1936-01-02
NEUTRALITY PLANS
P'ERILS FORESEEN
U. S. Entry in World War
Held Not Due to Our
Own Policy.
Ry DAVID LAWRENCE.

tween which Congress is about to at
tempt to choose by writing laws that
presumably will accomplish a peace
objective.
So anxious are the American people
TO avoid another ENHANCEMENT In
European war that members of Con-
eress sponsoring various neutrality
proposals think all they have to do Is
to charge that American entry into
the World war was due entirely to Our
own policy and the public will accept
the thesis.
Actually, there is more danger OF
dragging America into war by some OF
the meddlesome proposals now being
urged upon Congress than there were
In any Of the various suggestions made
In the period between 1914 and 1917.
Seymour Work Cited.
The evidence on what happened at
that time has been splendidly sum-
married in new book by Prof Charles
Seymour of Yale, who was editor OF
Col. Houses memoirs. Mr.. Seymour
makes it plain that unrestricted sub
Germans decided upon and was no
invention or device contr!ved by Presi-
dent Wilson.
Why the German government de-
termined to risk antagonizing America
by proclaining submarine attacks on
innocent persons travelling at sea is
something the German historians now
ascribe to matters OF strategy in the
German Navy, whose chieftains be-
lieved the policy was worth the risk.
Nobody has come forth as yet in Con-
gress with any proposal that will take
care of the insanity of foreign naval
strategists or stupid diplomats who run
the affairs of belligerent countries.
But an examination Of the reasons
why Germany was Indifferent to
American public opinion may reveal
that, after a 1915 political campaign
fought on the issue of keeping America
out of war, the Germans may have
come to the conclusion that the
United States would not ultimately
defend her rights,
Peace at Any Price.
Now the proposed neutrality policies
for the future, which are pending in
Congress, all go on the supposition
that America wants peace at any
price, that rights will be surrendered
rather than risk complications with
foreign powers, and that, by policy
of complete isolation. the United
States can avoid entanglements.
Most Of the suggestions which have
been made ignore the realities Of a
situation such as existed between 1914
and 1917 First of all. the belligerent
with the most powerful navy enforces
its blockade against is enemy. The
neutral countries have their choice of
supplying materials and foodstuffs to
the belligerent with the better navy or
declaring an embargo on all trade to
foreign countries. As a practical mat
ter, rans-shipments through neutral
territory to belligerent countries is i'm
possible to prevent.
At present in Congress the propo-
nents of a complete embargo believe
this is the way to avoid war Suppose,
however, Great Britain is engaged in
a life and death struggle with another
power. Canada. it should not be for
gotten, is a part of the British En-
pire Would the American people stop
all trade with Canada? Would the
Canadian people like that attitude?
Would there be no bad feeling result
ing in untoward incidents that might
nf1ame the passions of foreign coun-
tries against us?
Embargo Not Neutrality.
Am embargo Of any kind, warning
10 American shippers not to export to
neutral countries that might resell
goods to belligerents, is in itself TAX
Fg sides. It is not neutrality. To
enforce peace in the world, the League
of Nations has tried to get concerted
action on economic embargoes. Amer
lea has sought to pursue an independ-
ent policy and has incurred ill-wtll in
Italy. Today Americas attitude is
the subject of criticism in our own
country What would it be If Italy
were engaged in major war in Eu-
rope? Would italians in the United
States feel happy about it?
picking problem 1t cannot be solved
by writing specific statutes covering
all possible contingencies, nor can it
be solved by announcing in advance
that America doesn't care what for
eign governments do to her in the
way Of violating rights. that foreign
airships may come over or submarines
may attack without warning innocent
persons travelling between the United
States and neutral countries and that
wen do nothing about it.
But such a course might certainly
lead to quicker involvement than it
did in 1917. The only protection any
country has in adopting a policy of
embargoeS Is to take such action alb
solutely in unison with other countries,
50 that united front is presented. If
America, for her own reasons, doesn't
want to become a member Of the
League Of Nations, she can at least
agree to take economic steps to curtail
war trade only when other nations do
likewise. Any treaty in advance may
impair Americas freedom of action.
Since the problem involves so many
uncertainties, the only thing that can
be done is to put discretionary power
in the President, and If he doesn't
conform to public opinion. Congress
can always meet and take such power
away from him.
It. is the definition of American
policy as a submission In advance to
belligerent roaming of the seas and
even. roaming Of the air that may drag
America into war by encouraging the
navies or air forces of other countries
to consider the United States and ed
jacent areas an unrestricted theater of
battle.
(copyright. 1936)