Evening star., 1937-09-05
Bars Stampeding
Into Neutrality
Laws Use.
MARINE GUARD
WILL REMAIN
Withdrawal From
Far East Is
Stunned.

Of being stampeded into precipitate
invocation of the neutrality act
against the belligerents in the unde-
clared Sino-Japanese war, 1t was
learned yesterday
A clarifying statement of policy
from an authoritative source indi-
Gated that the administration Is not
disposed to yield to pressure from va
rious groups demanding immediate
withdrawal from China and the proc
lamation Of an embargo on arms ship
ments and war loans The guard Of
Marines will be maintained in the In
ternational Settlement to protect
American lives and property from
mob violence.
The American policy may be sum-
married. thus
The United States intends to
remain in the Far East. neutral
and friendly to both warning pow
ers.
While Americans will be az
forded every facility. there will be
no forced evacuation.
Nothing is to be gained by ap-
plying the neutrality act at this
stage and prestige might be lost.
Although the State Department is
as insitent as ever that Americans,
particularly women, children, the aged
and infirm. should quit the besieged
city Of Shanghai, there is no thought
Of pulling up stakes altogether and
seeking complete isolation behind the
neutrality act unless new conditions
arise making such action imperative
Shipping Not Periled.
The neutrality act. as the admins
tration views it, was intended to pre-
clude such incidents as might entangle
this country in foreign war. Up till
now American representatives In the
Far East have reported no such pro-
vocative acts by either belligerent.
The Japanese have threatened to sub
ject foreign shipping to search for
munitions bound for China, but as
yet American shipping in the Far East
has suffered no such indignity and
has moved free Of danger of delib-
crate attack by either combatant.
So far as the Sino-Japanese situa-
ton is concerned, this Governments
policy continues on 24-hour basis,
subject to modification as changing
conditions require
Primarily, according to an authori-
tative source, the United States is in
sisting on the desirability OF maintain
ing world peace. To that end the
administration, it was said, is insist
ing on the sanctity of treaties, the
peaceful settlement of disputes through
arbitration. non-aggression toward
and non-intervention in the affairs
Of other powers, and the removal Of
artificial trade barriers.
These principles. set forth by Secre-
tary Of State Cordell Hull on July l6
were definitely approved in writing by
more than so governments. With
respect to the Sino-Japanese situation
this Government stands firmly on
these principles.
AS between the extreme interna-
ttonal position that we should insist
upon. protecting our nationals from
every risk and the extreme national
ist view that we pull out of China lock,
stock and barrel, the State Depart
ment is taking the middle course. 1t
Is urging Americans to leave Shanghai
and is providing naval vessels for the
evacuation, but at the same time it is
maintaining an armed guard in
Shanghai to protect American lives
and property from mob violence.
The administrations policy of re-
framing from invoking the neutrality
act was applauded yesterday in a tele-
gram sent to Secretary Hull by II
leaders in the peace movement, in
cluding Henry A. Atkinson, general
secretary of the Church Peace Union;
James T. Shotwell. president of the
League of Nations Association;
Charles G. Fenwick, Carrie Chap
man Gait. DR.. Mary E. Wooley,
Charles P. Taft, Mrs. Emmons Blaine,
S. Van B. Nichols. Richard Wood,
Alves Long and Clark NJ. Eichel-
berger.
The signers told the Secretary they
thought the neutrality law so un-
fair that if it were invoked there
would arise clamor in this country
for revision. They also approved the
principles affirmed by Secretary Hull
on July l6, which underly the ad-
ministration's present policy toward
China and Japan.
(Copyright. 1887. by New York
Tribune 1nc)