Evening star., 1937-09-02
u. S. Faces Decision on
Influence as q Nation
To the Editor of The Star:

~ Wls 1OuOr oI Inc 9tAr:
The current row in China has un-
settled = great many diplomatic waters,
but 1t has made one thing clear It
Is now certain that no matter what
the foreign policy OF this country may
be, there will be plenty of complaints
about 1t from the experts. Isolation,
imperialism. watchful waiting, cautious
treading, cooperation with the League,
disregard OF the League, failure to CO.
operate with Britain, pulling the British
chestnuts out of the fire." strict neutral
ity, dollar diplomacy, the neutrality bill;
name your own bill, but don't expect
anybody to be satisfied with it.
Mr.. David Lawrence is exercised about
"the slaughter Of innocent lives" in the
Far East, and speaks of "organized
savagery, ruthless march of empire" and
the era OF the barbarian" But he
admits that the man in the street-even
as you and lis saying Lets mind our
own business and keep our own skins
safe" Between the type of mind that
excites itself over brutality of war and
wants to do something about it-even
when it isn't our war-and the type
which regrets, but likes to feel safe
across 5000 miles of ocean, Is quite q
gulf And from one or the other
OF these beliefs must come our influence
as nation. Between them will be de-
cided whether this Nation shall fight
another war on foreign soil.
1t can very easily be visualized ab-
stractly, that the United States, Britain
and France would by a strong and
active alliance, WELD a tremendous, al
most a compelling influence for peace
through treaties, and sanctions against
belligerent nations. A blockade against
Italy, for example, would have stopped
the Ethiopian conquest. Strong repre-
sentations by these three powers against
Japan could have enforced arbitration
and at least delayed the Chinese war
None of these things was done because
the three democracies are wary of war
and are willing to run no risk Of getting
into one.
The man in the street is able to
look at one phase OF the international
situation more calmly than Mr.. Law
renee. He sees, where Mr.. Lawrence
apparently does not, that a nation bent
on conquest and willing to 60 to war
Tor 1t is not likely to stop because it
has signed a treaty. Surely it sur
prises nobody to learn that international
engagements of all kinds can be regarded
as scraps Of paper" Since Germany
invaded Belgium every treaty signed by
world powers has been violated, and
Will continue to be. War suspends all
obligations, all agreements, all promises
The only thing it respects is force. The
trouble with all treaties is that they
have no teeth in them no sanctions, no
concert against the belligerent
1t may be true that this Nation today
is pursuing "a drifting, opportunistic
policy" that we have lost our moral
leadership" The neutrality bill pleases
nobody, settles nothing, outlines no fixed
policy, according to another of your
correspondents. Apparently We cannot
even invoke it today without taking
sides in the Chinese war. At any rate,
we must sooner or later decide whether
we can be genuinely isolationist depend
ing on our two oceans to protect us, or
whether We shall be a world power in
the fullest sense, exerting our influence
for peace, bat willing to use our Navy
and our arms in support of international
treaties and obligations, in defense of
our nationals. in protection OF our COM
merce. FRANK FORD BURNET.