The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-10-15
WHAT is THE REMEDY?
The forbearance of the democrat

| les of the world in the face of gross
violations of international law and
treaties in the Far East and in
Europe, in which they are deeply
concerned, cannot be commended
too highly But there is grave
danger to democracies and civiliza-
ton not only in refraining too long
from the enforcement of their rights
under treaty, but also in failure to
maintain those human rights so
sacred to mankind and achieved at
such great cost to the race.
The restraint which the United
States, Great Britain and France
have thus far exercised in face OF
the concerted violation of the Kel-
logg treaty by Italy and Germany
and the CHASTITY devastation of pro
perty and life in the Far East by
Japan would appear to be near the
vanishing point.
Moral suasion, the policy of dem
ocracies, does not seem to have the
slightest effect upon the aggressor
nations. This is shown by Hitler's
and Mussolini's recent rejection of
French British demands that for
eign volunteers be withdrawn from
the Spanish civil war and the refus-
al of Japan to cease it's barbarlc
activities in China, unprecedented
in a thousand years.
This utter callousness toward hu-
man life and International treaties
is the most remarkable phenomenon
of the age. That it should obtain
in Japan, which has so recently been
brought into contact with Western
civilization, can perhaps be explain
ed, but that it should find express
ion in two of Europe's nations, one
noted for it's art and it's profession
of the Christian religion, and the
other for it's advanced culture in
the sciences, is difficult to under
stand.
How to combat the prevailing
condition in the Far East and in
Europe is taxing the best minds.
Some claim that for the peaceful
nations to resort to war to enforce
treaty rights would not only put the
world in an inextricable situation,
but would quickly destroy all of
civilization. Others believe that if
Germany, Japan and Italy are per-
mitted to proceed in their present
aggressive manner, the Governments
of the world will again become
autocratic and humanity through
out the world would become regi-
mented under the cruelest depotism
ever created.
Many who are aware of all these
dangers to civilization favor less
drastic means than war. They
hold to- boycott as means to bring
the aggressor nations to peaceful
status. This has it's dangers, too,
for it is possible that such measures
would lead to war.
With respect to the Far East sit
uation, the public mind in the
United States and Great Britain is
becoming more and more awaken
ed to- the need for some action
which will bring Japan to a real
ization of her treaty obligations and
to cease her stark-mad destruction
of human life and property in Chain
Economic boycott seems to be
favored by Great Britain. Already
many British citizens are refusing
to buy Japan-made goods. Some
of the newspapers and periodicals
which have hitherto advocated per-
suasion and peaceful means, are
advocating the boycott. Secretary
of State Hull is becoming more and
more direct and emphatic in his
dealings with Japan in the present
situation, but he is restricted in his
processes by the Neutrality Act and
the peace sentiment in this country.
If the economic boycott is to be re-
sorted to as means of stopping
Japan, loans and credit to that
country should also be prohibited.
AS it is, the financial interests of
Great Britain and the United States
are making loans to banks in both
China and Japan.
Certain it is the peace-loving
forces of the world need to act upon
some constructive policy to save the
world from imnanding chaoa