Evening star., 1936-03-16
RY BRENT DOW ALLINSON.


by BRENT DOW ALLINSON.
It is important to know what the
leaders of the American people are
thinking about the grave international
crisis abroad and the danger of war.
1t Is even more important to know
what they propose to do about 1t, to
fend of the menace Of ENHANCEMENT
in war-like measures, and to contri-
butte to the preservation Of peace and
the attainment OF international JUS
tice. For nobody believes that the
new neutrality act is guarantee
against war or war-breeding contro-
versies. in the present condition of
the world.
The most that is claimed for it is
that it is an important step forward,
keeping America out of trouble, and
that it may become a potent instru-
ment for making warfare more diff
ficult for Others especially lawless ag-
gressors.
Measure a Compromise.
When he brought the compromise
neutrality bill from the Foreign Re-
lations Committee to the floor of the
Senate, Senator Key Pittman, chair
man of the committee said:
This joint resolution is COM
promise measure. pure and simple.
There are Senators on the committee
who do not believe there should be
any law with respect to neutrality at
this time. who do not believe the
act Of last August should be extended.
Witnesses came before our committee
who are recognized as great inter-
national lawyers. who testified that
It would be safer and better not to
enact any neutrality legislation at
present That is one extreme. The
other extreme was represented by
those who believe that II it were neces-
sary in order to prevent our being
dragged into a foreign war, we should
place an embargo upon the exports Of
everything to belligerant countries.
II think all the members of the
committee agreed that no legislation
favored by either extreme could pos
kiblv pass through Congress at this
session The feeling was intense, and
the controversy was sincere. that
there was danger that the law of last
year would expire by limitation before
any new legislation could be agreed
upon. Therefore, We brought in this
compromise measure.
Demands Not Yet Met.
1.-THE compromise does not meet
the demands of the administration
group Of Senators. 1t does not meet
the demands of the Nye-Clark group
and the Munitions Committee. 1t
does not even meet the demands of
those who do not believe in any
further legislation at this time But
It is a step along the desired line
of legislation, and a very forward
step"
Asked as to the nature of the con-
troversy within the Foreign Relations
Committee. which delayed its decision
TO report out the neutrality bill and
which still delays decision TO strength
en- it. Senator Pittman said: -r
There was wide difference of opin-
ion 4" as to its effect on peace.
The question was-and is-what are
the essentials of war? What items
a. e., commodities) should be enumer-
ated? Should they be enumerated in
the measure or left to the discretion
of the President? Or should all items
mandatorily be restricted to normal
shipments. after the proclamation
that war existed between certain coun-
tries?"
Drawn to War by Killing.
When Senator Bone inquired CO.
gently whether the Senate had a
right to lay down a rule Of law
or to omit rule, whose omission
would ieopardize the lives of millions,
and possibly jeopardize our entire
civilization, the chairman of the For
eign Relations Committee replied:
We did not go to war in 1917 by
reason of any destruction of
our property. AS a matter of fact,
We went to war by reason of what
We termed the illegal killing of some
Of our citizens"
And when the Senator from Wash
ington pushed the question further,
asking: Would it not therefore. be
wise to keep our nationals off of YES
eels of belligerent countries during
War?" Senator Pittman replied:
The argument for keeping our
citizens off of belligerent ships is a
very important one. for we went to
war by reason of the illegal destruc-
tion of the lives Of our citizens as
we interpreted international law at
that time I think that the
neutrality law is the most powerful
protection we could possibly give. I
doubt very seriously whether a sane
belligerent government would sink an
l..