Evening star., 1936-12-29
Member of the Associated Press.
War Quarantine.

A new conception of neutrality-more
particularly new if it is written into law
lis advanced by Senator Vandenberg of
Michigan, a member of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. 1t is that trade. the
rights of individual Americans. be sub
ordinated to the interest Of the Nation
in keeping out of foreign wars. AS the
Michigan Senator admits. "the new con-
ception may be tough on our cash reg
isters" He haStenS to add. however,
that 1T will be far easier on our sons"
It is the purpose of the neutrality act
which is expected at the hands of the
new Congress to keep the United States
from being involved in wars which de-
velop between other countries. Senator
Vandenberg's conception of such an act
is, to put it mildly. vastly different from
the attitude of this country in the past.
1t has been the demand of the United
States that its citizens be permitted to
trade as they desired with belliserent
nations, although admitting the desig-
nation of and enforcement against con-
traband of war" 1t has been the de-
mand of the United States that its citi-
zens be permitted to travel in safety
as they see fit on the seven seas during
a foreign war. 1t was such demand. at
least in part, which brought the country
into the World War.
The price which the country may have
to pay for the kind of neutrality de-
sired by Senator Vandenberg will be re-
garded by some as a very great price
There will be no more fat war contracts,
such as brought hundreds of millions of
dollars to American manufacturerS-and
to American farmers-during the early
years of the World War. 1t may mean a
serious curtailment of American foreign
trade, with consequent unemployment in
this country. 1t is question. however,
whether such losses in trade and en-
ployment might not be far less than
the losses to Americans if the country
became involved in new war because
IL lllSlotCO hpOtl 4L5ilI Va eAo0S VIVA
belligerent nations.
Senator Vandenberg would ban by
strict law all loans and credits and the
shipment Of munitions to warning ma
tions. He would leave nothing to the
discretion of the President, nothing to
be determined after war has started.
To ha nf IN
firmly established before the game
began. Then all the world would be
on notice what to expect from the United
States in the event of foreign conflict
1t is not that he diStrusts the present or
any future President. 1t is his theory
that the use of discretion" after hostili-
ties begin, would constitute in all prob
ability an unneutral act.
In his effort to raise quarantine
against war;" the Michigan Senator also
would make it illegal for American citi-
zens to travel on the ships of belligerent
nations. The right of Americans so to
travel has been maintained in the past.
But here again, Vandenberg insists, such
rights must give place to the interests of
the whole country and the American
people in the avoidance of ENHANCEMENT
In foreign wars.
If the Vandenberg conception of neu-
trality could be adopted by the other
nations, the danger of world wars would
be greatly lessened. But as he says,
conditions abroad today make its pres
ent adoption too difficult. The United
States, he insists, could well take the first
step.