Evening star., 1937-12-14

any similar at M
tack in the fu- r.-,,,
ture" be consid-
cred by the Japanese government.
Other governments have asked the
same thing, but notwithstanding a
whole series of apologies, public and
private. the japanese airmen go on
bombing anything they see in the
vicinity Of localities where hostilities
with the Chinese are in progress.
Two distinct views prevail in Con-
Gress, One is that America should
withdraw all ships, naval and mer-
chant. and that American citizens
who are in the danger zone stay there
ct their own risk The other view is
that America cannot run away from
the episode in the Yangtze River or
similar attacks upon Americans who
have treaty rights without indicating
to the whole world that the United
States isn't really interested in pro-
tecting her rights and has adopted
. policy of peace at any price.
What Leads to Invasion?
There are, no doubt. more people in
America today than ever before who
believe and subscribe to a peace-at-
any-price policy and who insist that
only when American territory-here
on the continents invaded should
there be any show of force
But what are the events that usually
lead up to an attack on a nation
NJ
tacks have been made throughout
world history whenever nations indi-
cate that they do not intend to de-
fend themselves.
1t will, Of course, be open to dis
pute because the facts of history are
well known to everybody and retro
apective conjecture is not necessarily
proof, but anybody who lived in close
contact with the events that preceded
American entry into the European
war knows that the cabled reports
from the United States transmitted
by the press and by diplomatic chan
nels telling of the state of mind of
the American people and the Ameri-
can Government had everything to do
with ultimate involvement OF the
United States in the war.
Germany Had Wrons Idea.
Germany's naval chieftains were
convinced that they could attack
all shipping, including that of the
United States, the largest neutral, and
that American ships could be tor
pedoed without warning and American
lives lost and yet President Wilson
would never 60 tc war Indeed, the
political campaign of 1916 had been
waged on the slogan of He kept us
out Of war" and, although Mr.. Wilson
never used such a slogan or made
such . promise, nevertheless the Ger
man government was convinced the
United States would never 60 to war
to protect her nationals or her ship
ping.
This relationship Of public opinion
10 war has always influenced diplo-
matte action. Count Won Bernstorff
once related to me an incident that
happened during the administration
Of President Theodore Roosevelt. The
German Ambassador told me the
President had said privately America
would never go to war about issues
that arose in the Far East The Ger
man Ambassador frankly conceded
that his governments policy was al
ways based on that assumption.
Does 1t do American moral force
and diplomatic influence any good to
have members of Congress and peace
organizations crying out for the with
drawal Of protection from American
citizens in the Far East? Isn't that
tantamount to saying to Japan that
no matter what happens the United
States will not insist upon respect for
treaty rights where American citizens
are concerned?
Presidents Hands Tied.
Yet Mr.. Roosevelts policies today
are being shaped with the knowledge
that such q sentiment against firm ac-
ton is being built up that he cannot
possibly embark on any policy OF eco
nomic sanctions or embargoes against
Japanese goods because he will be &C.
cused OF trying to drag the Nation
into war. Mr.. Roosevelt's hands are
virtually tied by the non-resistant pub
lie opinion that has been built up
during the last two or three years.
These pacifist groups have en-
deavored to prove that wars come
only because OF war profits and that
even Mr.. Wilson took America into
the war to save an economic situation.
Such slander on the memory of a
great man has been refuted by the
facts but the same groups choose the
thesi that attempts to protect the
rights of the citizens abroad bring on
war and that material investments
are the real reason for potential Amer
lean involvement
Actually many Americans get their
livelihood directly or indirectly out
OF world trade and a nation that
doesn't care what happens to its cit
tsens overseas can never hope to build
UP trade to help relieve unemploy-
ment at home. And when unemploy-
ment grows at home and no outlets
for products are protected the result
IN other countries has been the rise of
Fascism. Things much worse than
war happen under such circumstances,
and If the experience of 1916 is q
criterion even war is not prevented
when . people tell their government
they will not fight for their rights but
will surrender them to the govern
ments which challenge them.
Copyright. 1879