Evening star., 1938-01-19
Nation Contributes to Inter.
national Law Breakdown.
Wright Says.
POLICY HELD STlMULANT
TO AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS
United World Action Declared
Necessary for Removal of
Causes of War.

neutrality. Quincy Wright, professor
OF international law at the Uni
versity of Chicago, told delegates to
the Thirteenth National Conference
on the Cause and Cure of War today
at the Mayflower Hotel.
The American policy of isolationist
neutrality, Prof. Wright said, has
stimulated aggression in Europe and
Asia by convincing the aggressors
they have nothing to fear from the
United States, however they might
trample upon its rights and ignore
the principles, treaties and rules of
law for which 1t has Stood"
The policy of this country also has
discouraged members of the League
OF Nations from applying sanctions
and has encouraged them to revert
to isolationist neutrality themselves
because of the fear the United States
might by its commercial policy frus-
trate the effectiveness of such sane
tions, he said.
Future of Democracies.
1T is doubtful whether democra-
cies can survive in a jungle world.
particularly sloW-acting democracies
like the United States, based upon
the principle of checks and balances
and a decentralized federalism" Prof.
Wright, former Phillips Prize win
ner, warned. In time of general war
all countries tend to become dicta-
torships. and If conditions of general
war or threat of war become chronic
democracy may become an untenable
form Of government"
Prof. Wright, who during the World
War was special assistant in inter-
national law to the Navy Depart
ment. denounced the Ludlow war ref
erendum plan. He said in its present
form this amendment would create the
impression IN some quarters that the
United States lis devising means for
using war as an instrument Of ma
tional policy contrary to the Kellogg
pact: that In others it will suggest
that the United States will do MOTH
ing to defend law and justice in the
world Either impression abroad, he
warned, would tend further to dis
courage world organization for peace
and to encourage aggression"
In a vigorous attack on "interna-
tional law breakers" Clyde Eagle
ton. professor of international law at
New York University. voiced the
opinion that removal of the causes
of war can be accomplished "only
by a well-organized international gov
ernment backed by force"
Force Called Inevitable Factor,
Prof. Eagleton characterized force
as IAN inevitable factor in human
affairs"
He pointed out that 1T is the dicta-
torial states which are today break
ing the law of nations, and they
should be stopped because they are
lawbreakers. and not because they
are Fascist
If the organized community Of
nations-and please do not forget
that the great majority of nations
are organized in the League of Ma
tions-should decide that one or more
such states Is a lawbreaker, and If
the organized community should au-
thorize the use of force by its mem
bers jointly-that would not be the
old alliance againstaalliance It would
mean instead the reign of law and
the maintenance of peace and JUS
tice,' said the speaker.
He voiced regret that President
Roosevelt in his message to Congress
spoke in terms of democracy against
Fascism. for this merely means po-
litical dissension and prejudice" It
would have been better, he said, II
the President had spoken lin terms
OF cooperative action by all members
OF the community of nations against
whatever state is lawbreaker."
Asks U. S. Action.
He said he would like to see the
United States shoulder her share in
coercive measures undertaken under
the authority Of the community of
nations against Japan. If Japan were
judged by the community to be q
lawbreaker."
There Is no necessity for world
conflict from the standpoint Of COM
petition for the necessities of life,
George Fort Milton of the office of
Secretary Of State Hull told the con-
ference. The people of the world
are In no race with starvation, forc-
ing them to steal from or battle with
their neighbors, he said.
Last night the conference heard
an explanation Of the working of the
World Court from Manley o. Hudson.
judge Of the Permanent Court of
International Justice. Speakers YES
terday afternoon were Harry d. Gide-
onse, associate professor Of economics.
University of Chicago, who discussed
economic dissatisfactions affecting the
war problem; Felix Morley, editor Of
the Washington Post, who discussed
plans tried during the last year to
stave on international war, including
non-intervention in Spanish affairs.
policing the Mediterranean and deal
ing with the Far East; Henry A. At
kinson, Atlantic Theological Semi
nary, and John Perrine Walker, Har.
ward University.
Five round.table discussions are
slated for this afternoon, followed by
tea at the White House at 4 pm, and
= banquet at Z. at which the speak,
ers are to be Mrs. Franklin d. Roose-
velt. Carrie Chapman Gait and Mrs.
Ruth Bryan Owen Rohde, former
American Minister to Denmark.
The round-table discussions are be-
ing sponsored by $4,000 members of
the National Federation of Business
and Professional Women's Clubs, one
Of II national organizations particle
pAting in the conference, Miss Earlene