Evening star., 1937-09-26
PARTIAL ARMS EMBARGO
SALVACES AID FOR CHINA
Roosevelt, by Executive Order, Saved
US. Vessels and Leaves Door Open
for Munitions and Credit.

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brutally-with that shipment. The
ship might be halted and the cargo
! confiscated.
Mr.. Roosevelt recognized that such
an incident might become extremely
grave, especially as Admiral Yarnell
would have felt compelled to give
that Government-owned ship all the
protection necessary to prevent Jap
anese interference. The first thought
In the minds of the Presidents ad-
vlsers was to have the Chief Execu-
tive at once proclaim the neutrality
law. But upon considering all the
facts involved, the President decided
to take a small corner out Of the
neutrality law and apply that section
alone. 1t WAS like making an ONE
let without breaking any eggs.
Slap Ready for Uncle Sam.
Mr.. Roosevelt's first impulse was to
let them try and see what happened.
But on second thought it was de-
| cided that the country would not re-
spond favorably to the treatment.
There was foreseen q general out
cry that the administration was risk
Ing ENHANCEMENT in another war in
order to protect the enormous profits
OF the merchants of death" Be-
cause Toxic knew they could depend
on stirring, through competent chan
nels, this psychology of the masses
in our country, they had decided to
deal drastically with that American
vessel. 1t would have been a safe
way to slap Uncle Sans face with
impunity.
OF course the European situation
was another factor which determined
the Chief Executives move. Admin
| istratlon leaders are reluctant to ad-
NIT that there is deep connection
between the new crisis in the Medt-
erranean and the independent yet
parallel foreign policy of the United
! States.
But in certain we'll informed quar-
tiers it is an open secret that any ac-
tion to stop Japan from becoming the
master of China will be based on CO.
operation with the British Empire.
The attitude of the administration
hardens or relaXes in accordance with
European developments. And this is
natural. Washington is unwilling to
accept the denunciation of so many
citizens of this country, that to get
| involved in the Far East means to
act as the policemen of the British.
1t is unwilling to pull chestnuts out
of the fire for Great Britain even
| though some of the chestnuts may be
| our own.
Fleet Move Checked.
Soon after the British ambassador
to Marking was machine-gunned by
Japanese aviators and the Toxic gov
eminent refused to offer the customary
reparations, it was expected that a
part of the British home fleet would
be sent to Singapore. 1t was not a
plous wish; it was an actual belief
based on certain communications re-
ceived here. Even an eventual block
ade was thought about despite the
implications of such action.
The submarine scuff1e in the Medi-
| terranean-an undeclared warfare be-
lieved to have been caused by the
desire of Japan's western allies to
prevent any British American Coop
Grafton in the Far East. The moral
| effect on Great Britain answered fully
the expectations of the Toxic govern
ment. The British people, remember
| ing the anxious days of 1917 and
| 1918 when Britain was almost starved
| into submission, became panicky and
demanded from their government that
the entire feet should be at hand to
prevent repetition Of the menace of
the World War days.
From the point of view Of naval
strategy, despite the presence of hos
tile submarines in the Mediterranean,
Great Britain could easily afford to
send the major portion of her battle
fleet and the necessary auxiliaries to
the Far East. Psychological1y, how
ever, this is impossible for the time
| being. Hence hints were sent out from
London that We might just as well hold
| of and wait to see what will develop
| in the Mediterranean in the course of
the next few weeks. One must bear in
mind that there have been no official
discussions on the subject between
the governments, but general "esti-
mates" of the situation were exchanged
and a good deal of thinking aloud in
connection with such common opera
tions.
| Partial Cause of Order.
The result of this thinking aloud is
partially responsible for the unex-
pected order of the President of Sep
tember 13, an order which may tempo
rarily ward off the danger of some
real unpleasantness with the japanese
government.
sake of the munition makers.
How the ships carrying regular mer-
chandise and raw materials to both
belligerents will be protected is a mat
ter which depends entirely on circum-
stances. Should force be used In such
a seizure, it is possible that violence
will be answered with violence.
(Copyright, 1879