Evening star., 1938-11-20
Spanish Arms Ban
Removal Urged by
Noted Speakers Here
Join Lawyers Committee
In Criticism of Leaders
In Power in Europe

Immediate lifting of the arms
shipment ban to Spain was urged
and criticism Of the totalitarian
governments and the Chamberlain
government In Britain strongly
voiced as the two-day conference Of
the Lawyers Committee on Ameri-
can Relations With Spain opened at
the Mayfiower Hotel last night.
The group, which is interested In
having the embargo on Spain lifted.
expects to submit recommendations
to the State Department at the con-
clusion of sessions today. Five
thousand signatures of members Of
the American Bar Association will
also be submitted.
Some 200 persons were present at
the opening session and heard DR..
William A. Nelson, president Of
Smith College, urge immediate lift
ing of the embargo as . possible
deterrent to Britain further
strengthening Frances hand"
DIR. Nelson accused the Chamber
lain government Of presenting to
the British people policies which
have no basis in fact.
Lying has come to be a normal
instrument among the statesmen OF
today" he asserted, adding, 1T is
impossible that the British prime
minister can be as simple as he
seems to be-"
Treaty Breaking Hit.
DR.. Mary E. Wooley, president
emeritus of Mount Holyoke College
and United States delegate to the
Conference on Arms Limitation.
condemned the present day ten
dency to disregard treaties. The
United States has recognized the
government Of Spain by exchange
Of diplomats, she pointed out, and is
therefore under obligation to treat
1t as a friendly nation.
Support of any efforts Of the
Spanish Ambassador TO bring about
Justice" was urged by Frank P.
Walsh. chairman Of the New York
Power Authority and honorary
president Of the National Lawyers
Guild.
The only democracies in the world
today, Mr.. Walsh declared, are the
United States, Spain and Ireland.
Analysing the situation from the
standpoint of international law. DR..
James w. Garner, professor of in
ternational law at the university OF
Illinois, said the embargo never
should have been laid and there
fore should be Immediately repealed.
Pointing to Fascist and Nazi &C
tivity in Spain, Dr. Garner said the
character OF the war has now
changed from civil to international
The original purpose OF the en-
barge. he explained, has thus in
large measure been defeated.
Lewis Mumford. author Of Tech
MICS and Civilization" delivered an
eloquent indictment OF the Fascist
countries and the Chamberlain gov
ernment, which he called q pilot
fish for the Fascist shark"
Naval Conveys Of Goods.
Mr.. Mumford. who will speak on
the Town Hall Program tonight
recommended a program not only
OF trade resumption with Spain, but
naval conveys of goods if necessary
The British and French governments
should be told. he added, that any
attempt to hand Spain over to the
Fascist states would be regarded as
an unfriendly act against our peo-
Pile and against our neighbors in
South America"
Presiding officer was William E.
Dodd. former United States Ambas-
sador to Germany. Mr.. Dodd de-
clared by the embargo the United
States was helping Hitler and Mus
sollm conquer Spain. the country
that discovered America.
He said reports that the Spanish
government is Communistic are in
correct and added that he could not
understand why American Cath
olics could condemn Hitler for his
treatment of Catholics and yet sup
port his ally, Franco.
All the speakers pointed out that
the embargo discriminates against
the Spanish government, since the
munitions can get to Franco and the
insurgents through the Fascist coun-
tries. All also referred to the obli-
CATION on the United States to ac-
cord friendly treatment on the