Evening star., 1937-08-24

unlimited submarine warfare, the
sinking OF all vessels without regard
TO whether they were belligerent or
neutral, whether they carried con-
traband or non-contraband, or wheth-
er their destination was to a bellig-
erent or to a neutral port. And so
Congress enacted the so-called neu-
trality law.
It was misnamed. 1t should have
been called the peace act. 1t en-
powered the President, in his sound
discretion, to determine when a state
Of war exists between two or more
foreign powers. Having made this
determination and having proclaimed
it, then it becomes unlawful to export
from the United States to any of such
belligerents arms. ammunition and
implements Of war. These articles
are strictly defined in the act. They
do not include any raw materials.
The act further empowers the Presi-
dent, when he shall have issued such
proclamation, to further require
any other additional articles to be
conveyed to some foreigner before
they are exported from our country.
He is also authorized, If he sees At,
to prohibit American ships from trans
porting from the United States to
belligerents certain other articles in
addition to arms. ammunition and
implements of war
1t must also be remembered that
upon the issuance of the proclama-
ton by the President that q state OF
war exists, then all the belligerent
powers are debarred from selling their
bonds. notes. or other securities in
the United States, or from in any
way obtaining credit except short
term normal commercial credit. This
provision is essential because the
granting Of credits to the belligerent
or belligerents controlling the seas
adds greatly to the involuntary dis
elimination against the belligerent
who cannot obtain imports by sea
This very credit in our country dur
ing the World War did more than
anything else to arouse the frenzy of
the German people to q point of un-
restrained desperation never before
known in history. And yet 1t is an
unfriendly act to deny government
With whom We are at peace and with
whom We are engaged in commercial
relations and who denies that it is
at war the right to obtain credit in
our country unless 1t appears con-
clusively necessary for the protection
OF the lives of our citizens and the
peace OF our country.
Applies to Warning Spain.
This act has been extended so as
to include country in which civil
strife exists The act has already been
applied to Spain. The application of
the law to Spain aroused intense feel
ing in this country on the part of
small groups Of people who are more
interested in the cause of the Span
sh government than they are in the
peace OF our own country and the
safety Of the lives of our citizens. The
prohibition applied equally to the
Spanish government and the so-called
lnsurgent government in Spain.
We all remember the desperate
attempt OF Spanish vessel to leave
our ports the day before the neutrality
act went into effect, for the purpose
OF carrying arms, ammunition and
implements Of war to the Spanish gov
eminent. That ship left our ports
within an hour before the restraining
act was to be enforced. 1t was cap
tured several weeks later off the coast
OF Spain by naval vessel OF the in
surgent forces, and instead of the war