The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-07

BOake Carter
A Mother and Her Son.
What Can She Ask?
What Expect7

News item:
Champaign, nl.-A mother whose
aviator son. Harold Dahl. repeatedly
has been doomed to die by Gen.
Francisco Frances insurEent forces in
Spain, appealed to Secretary of State
Hull to intercede for his release. He
was captured when his government
plane was shot down near the Madrid
front.
OUPPOSE the United States
~ were torn again by civil war.
Suppose a young Spanish aviator
enlisted as soldier Of fortune
with one of the warning groups.
Supposing he flew his daily
patrols, bombing and shooting
the people in cities and towns
under control Of the opposing
group, but who were all United
States citizens.
Suppose one day a bullet pune
tured the gas tank of the young
Spaniard's plane and he was
forced down. Suppose he was
taken prisoner and condemned
to die.
What would you do?
If you were the mother Of the
boy you would ask the Foreign
Minister Of the Spanish govern
ment to beseech the commander
of the American forces who had
condemned him to the firing
squad to spare his life.
But, if you were Foreign Min
lister what would you do? II
you were a sentimental Foreign
Minister you would make repre-
sensations.
+ \
IF you were a realiSt as Foreign
l. Minister, you would say to
the mother appealing for the
life of her son something on this
order:
Madam, consider! Your son
is a spaniard. Spain Is not at
war with the United States.
The United states has an In
ternal war of its own. 1t is none
Of our business. If a Spaniard
decides to fight for one group
or another in the United States.
that is a matter between him
and his own conscience.
If he is captured as 8 prisoner
Of war and condemned to death
the Government Of Spain cam
not assume any responsibility.
It has no right to presume to
make representations On his be-
half to either Of the warning
generals in America. When he
enlisted to fight in foreign
legions he forfeited the protec-
ton the Spanish government
gives to its citizens.
"And, madam, consider fur.
ther. You son, you say, is but
a youth; that he is too young to
die. All, madam, your words
are too true. That is the trag-
edy. He is too young to die,
but he deliberately went forth
from his own land to shoot
down and send to their deaths
other men whom he never saw.
never knew existed.
81" 4 DID not UNDERSTAND
Al Yes, madam, you are
right again. Youth does not
understand. Youth is impetu-
Gus. 1t is gay, romantic and
full of the lust for adventure.
Above all, youth is selfish-self.
ish not in elaboration but IN
thoughtlessness.
Did your son hesitate and
consider that, by his action OF
enlistment in a foreign army, he
was caring naught for the well
fare of his fellow countrymen?
do you not see, madam, that
this Government cannot, and I
think should not, even presume
to approach the American gen"
eral and in the name Of Spain,
or even in the name Of human
ity-ask for the release Of your
son. He is the victim Of the
tragedy Of war and youth
and as such he must bear his
cross even unto the presence Of
his Maker.
Madam, I grieve with YOU
but I can do nothing"
The opinions of BoGke Carter
are his DUN and not necessarily
Ill.,. - MI =. TTyn.bS. a1a., Ir;s,, a.