Evening star., 1939-09-25

Congressman Advocates
Return to Established Rules
Of international Law
To the Editor Of The Star:
In order to clarity an issue which
seems to be obscure, may ask that you
publish this letter?
There seems to be considerable con-
fusion in respect to the meaning of the
word neutrality" Neutrality is the same
as impartiality, in which we as a Nation
will extend equal courtesies and rights
to all other nations. We are neutral be-
cause we want to be, and for that reason
no legislation is required to safeguard
or to hold us back, I might say, from
becoming involved in some one else's
war.
The term neutrality" is employed for
the purpose of giving sense of safety
to the people. The one who employs
the term neutrality legislation" uses it
for selfish purpose, in order to build
himself up as national savior. Natu-
rally, no legislation is required to keep
us from jumping overheard, from walk
ing into fire, or from walking into
some one elses fight. 1t is matter we
must decide for ourselves. We cannot
help but realize danger, and in such
realization does a piece of paper la
beled neutrality legislation" add to our
safety?
Neutrality legislation is, of course.
useless, and is prompted by insignificant
statesmen who are short on common
sense and long on showmanship. 1t is
merely selfish ballyhoo to gain public
approval so that its proponents may
strut with the war lords of Europe.
have attempted to show the useless
ness Of neutrality legislation. Let me
now call attention to other features.
The Bloom Neutrality Act is an ad-
ministration measure, in which Con-
gress by legislation bestows powers on the
President in relation to foreign states
that it cannot legally give to him over
the United States.
Example-Section 1 () Of the act says:
whenever the President shall find there
exists state Of war between foreign
states 80 he shall issue proclamation
naming states involved and other
states as and when they may become in
volved in war" In this section the Presi-
dent is empowered to proclaim or de-
clare war between foreign nations, when
he finds it exists, no matter whether
such nations have themselves declared
war. This is not only an unconstitu-
tional power, but it is not even within
the ability of Congress to grant it. Con-
gress in passing this act, became an in
ternational laughing stock.
Let us now compare this with the
Presidents power at home. The Presi-
dent shall from time to time give to the
Congress information of the state Of the
Union and recommend to their con-
sideration such measures as he shall
Judge necessary and expedient."
After due consideration of the Presi-
dents recommendations, Congress alone
has the constitutional power to decide
whether or not we shall declare war. The
ridiculous situation is this, as I said:
Congress, in passing the Bloom Neu-
trality Act, gave the President power of
regulation and declaration over foreign
nations that it has no constitutional
right to give him, even over the United
States.
1t is vivid example Of a peculiar
brand of craftsmanship that, II con-
tinued, will lead us into war. 1t is the
people alone who have the power to
check this congressional indifference to
responsibility by forcefully expressing
their wishes to those who represent them
in the Congress Of the United States. 1t
is the young people who should be par
ticularly interested in this, because 1t Is
they who will be called to meet the shock
Of Government blunders that may lead
us into an unprovoked and unnecessary
conflict.
All neutrality legislation, therefore, is
impractical, for if generally employed by
nations, each of them would have its own
law. This would bring about constant
conflict and confusion. It is to prevent
this that we have international law, a
law Ol IldtlOllS, VI CUUc " WHICH dl
nations subscribe. Those nations that
observe international law may remain
neutral, and those that ignore interns-
tional law leave themselves open to at
tack. We must, however, bear in mind
that nations at war do not adhere to
international law, for in a life-and- death
struggle the question is not law but Is
instead survival. 1t follows, therefore,
that to remain neutral it is our duty to
respect the field of combat or war zones.
In doing so, we are neutral in fact
We have, for some reason best known
to the proponents of the legislation,
enacted into law the so-called Neutrality
Act, and in this we are unique, for I
believe we are the only Nation with neu-
trality legislation and with Statesmen"
that ask for it.
I, with others, realized the danger of
the Bloom Neutrality Act, and that it
would pass the House. 1t was for this
reason we supported the Vorys embargo
clause, which denies the sale of arms to
powers at war. Let us not forget, the
purpose of the act is not to establish
neutrality, but 1t is instead q measure
which makes the President an interna-