The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-01-10
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National Topics interpreted "a 55T9S
by William Bruekart WYHIfTTEN
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days of the summer Of 1914, 1t will
be remembered, that
waiting Archduke Ferdinand
for q Spark was laid low by an
assassln's bullet In a
remote province of Austria. At the
time, the assassination was front page
news for most of the newspapers but
Its real import was not generally recog-
nlzed. Nevertheless, from that incident
sprang the greatest war the world has
ever known.
Within few months Of % years
after the assassination at Sarajevo the
world sees a situation In Europe where
another such incident would have con-
sequences just as violent. At the pres
ent time. ammunition dumps all over
Europe are waiting for a spark to set
them off. 1t may be an accidental
spark or 1t may be a spark deliberately
cast into that powder keg. / do not
mean to say that 1t will happen but l
do wish to emphasize that at no time
since the Archdukes assassination has
there been field so fertile for the pro-
motion Of gigantic war as the present.
1t may seem, and 1t undoubtedly does
seem to many, that the dangers In
herent In the European situation at
present are afar off. But, 1t can be
recalled that there were those In this
country who, as late as 1916, said the
European war was 5000 miles away.
Before 1t ended, however, 100000
American boys and young men had
been drafted to be thrown into that
European cauldron. 1t may happen
again.
While there Is no immediate posi-
bllity of the United States getting tan
gled up in the European political prob
lens which spring from hostllitles be-
tween Ethiopia and Italy, those who
know history cannot fail to agree with
the statement that 1t Is never too early
to plan for preventing war. For that
reason, then, believe almost every
family in the United States has
stake, either directly or indirectly, In
one of the problems with which con-
gress must deal. This legislation is
known by the short and rather indie
scriptive title of the neutrality policy.
seek to make is that the title does not
convey by any manner or means its
full importance or it's full effect upon
the lives of each Of us. If policy can
be worked out, policy that Is effec
tive, obviously our chances for remain
or in Asia for that matter-are GER
tainly much better. I do not know
and | do not believe anybody can say
accurately that 1t is possible to de-
velop a neutrality policy that will be
fool-proof; or that will guarantee to
ments, or that will prevent us from
stumbling our toes and falling into the
midst of the mess. 1t seems to me,
however, that we ought to try.
A year ago about this time, congress
enacted a bill which was designed to
prevent Tic SiiPiuChI
Keep Us of war materials to
Ont of War any belligerent ma
tiOn or nations. 1t
was mandatory. The President was di-
rected by congress to lay an embargo
against the shipment of arms, ammu-
milton of war to any countries engaged
in hostilities regardless of whether
their claims were right or wrong. We
have had some experience with the
force of that legislation already and
It has not been without its embarrass-
ing and difficult phases. Now, how
ever, it is proposed to revamp that
legislation which was admittedly of
temporary character and is due to eX-
pire by limitation of law on February
%. Congress has been told rather def
initely, think, that this country wants
TO remain out of someone else's war.
The President has the same idea. So,
instead of allowing our citizens to run
wild, ship anything and everything,
make contracts with the countries now
engaged in war or those that may be
engaged later, it is proposed that we
have a permanent policy embOdying
whatever principles may be found
wisest to protect us from ourselves and
prevent us from throwing ourselves
again into such volcano of molten
lava as any present-day war would be.
The problem is not as simple as 1t
appears on the surface When congress
enacted the present temporary neu-
trality legislation, 1t provided that the
embargoes. when and IL laid, must ap-
ply to all. 1t gave the President no
discretionary power to determine
whether we wanted to use these en-
bargoes as a weapon against one ma
ton while aiding another. Mr.. Roose-
welt, In accepting the original legis-
lation. said publicly that he believed
he should have such discretionary
power. This was In line with the con-