Evening star., 1937-01-10
ROOSEVELTS AIM PEACE
ABOVE NEUTRALITY
Administration Holds Discretionary
Law More Effective in Preventing
Involving of i. S. in Conflict.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

new leSlSldGlOu w. IcPidCc tliC
L existing neutrality bill, which ex-
pires on May l, will no longer be
called q neutrality act, but IAN act
10 keep the United States out of war"
The experiences gained during and
after the last war have shown clearly
that there is no such thing as a water
tight neutrality. Consequently, the
scope of the new bill must concern
itself less with actual neutrality and
more with the best means of keeping
this country out Of trouble. In these
days when subtlety reigns supreme in
international affairs; when pacts and
agreements are signed by rulers of
nations voluntarily, but with strong
mental reservations regarding their
application, the President and the
Congress of the United States are en-
deavoring sincerely to avoid entangle-
mentS.
Our legislators are now in accord
with the executive branch of the ad-
ministration-that the danger OF a
war is greater today than it has been
at any time in the last few years.
Members of the Senate and the House
have reached this opinion through
searching investigations and conf
Dental reports of Americans trained
for long years in observing and
analyzing developments with critical
and unbiased judgment.
Here are some of the conclusions:
Europe is facing cataclysm because
It has blundered into it. On the sur
face, the chief cause Of this impending
tragedy is the fight between two po-
litical PHILOSOPHERS communism
against fascism. Behind these lofty
ideas hide jealousies and suspicious
which the principal powers are nurs-
ing against each other. Spain is a
typical example. Logically, the Euro
pean powers should have allowed the
Spaniards to fight out their differences
rs best they could. 1t should have been
q matter of indifference to them
whether Franco or the Madrid gov
ernment came out on top. Instead,
however, all the leading European
nations put a finger in the Spanish
pie, favoring one faction against the
other, with the result that Franco,
the Soviets, Italy and Germany now
are at loggerheads over the Iberian
situation. Their latest antagonism has
come to the surface And while 1t Is
by no means sure that the Spanish
civil war will be taken as pretext for
an immediate conflagration. the posi-
ton adopted by the antagonistic pow
ers is such that it makes reconclI
iation. among them practically impos-
sible.
No Let-up in Arms Race.
The armament race is on. Every
country is spending much more than
its budget can afford on military prep
arations. And there is no sign OF a
let-up. On the contrary, next year
Great Britain Is going to spend s4,-
O00.oO0000 on arms. France. this
year, is spending no less than 81 per
cent Of its total budget on national de-
fense. The food and the clothes OF
the German people are being rationed
to provide the army and the navy with
more and better war supplies.
It Is true that many European ma
tions are war weary. But they are
equally weary of paying higher taxes
every year-taxes which are being
spent on armaments. And among the
peoples of many countries. including
France, were individuals are less anxl-
GUS to fight, the following philosophy
H.. nrolU nnrp ann
It comes quickly. Poverty and starva-
ton are slow and may last a life
time" That is why even the most
war-weary nations in Europe now are
inclined to 'let it CO. and put an end
to this highly enervating and uncer-
tain situation.
While Mr.. Roosevelt still hopes that
ne may be able to do something to
alleviate the situation and avert an
immediate war, he and the Congress
desire to erect a strong wall to pro-
tect this country. Whatever the feel
ings OF the individual Congressman
may be in regard to neutrality in civil
wars, either q joint resolution or an
amendment to the present law which
will cover this point will be passed
with breakneck speed. The general
feeling in both houses is that the SIM
plest form would be to give the Chief
Executive discretionary powers to ap-
ply an embargo on all factions of
nation where there is a civil war.
Objection to giving the President
unlimited discretionary powers is
raised on the ground that this would
create q precedent for the new neutral
ity bill. The Congress wants to deter
mine when an inSurrection becomes a
civil war. In the case of the former
there should be no embargo, because
this would handicap the recognized
authorities In re-establishing law and
order. But as soon as a rebellion be-
comes civil war an embargo becomes
imperative. And correct definitions in
International affairs are difficult to
ind.
Definitions Are Offered.
Some Of the suggestions thus far
offered are: "An insurrection be-
comes civil war when outside powers
intervene In the affairs of that ma
tion." "Insurrection can be con-
sidered as civil war when the insur-
recting party is recognized by one or
several outside powers" "An embargo
on arms and ammunition must be
placed by the Chief Executive in the
event Of civil disturbances in a coun-
try threatening to involve the United
States in an international conflict"
None Of these is acceptable to a
majority Of congressman. Hence even
those most jealous o. the prerogatives
Of the Senate In foreign relations are
inclined to be satisfied with laying
down certain brood principles and
allowing the President the latitude of
deciding upon an embargo in accord
ance with his best judgment. It is
realized that, after all, the Chief
Executive and his principal auxiliary,
the State Department, are in a posi-
ton to examine the foreign situation
day by day and decide when an en-
barge should be applied.
The case of the second hand arms