Evening star., 1939-07-19

amounted to direct appeal to Ger
man-Americans and Italian -Ameri-
cans TO line up against repeal 1t
must have seemed to a good many
OF those who read Mr.. Fish inf1am-
matory atement-including a large
proportion OF the groups he ad-
dressed-that he had done a shock
ing and ineXcuSable thing in calling
Tor mass action along racial lines.
That sort of thing is bad enough at
any time; it is especially to be con-
demned at time when racial hates
abroad have brought the world
again to the verge of war.
Mr.. Fish now gives us a sample of
what Is to be expected from some of
those who want the embargo con-
tlnued. From some, not from all, for
happily there are men of the isola-
ZIONIST point of view, like Senator
Borah. who fight more fairly. What
MI. Fish Is now saying is that
Congress should adjourn within 10
days and let the American people
decide whether we are to police and
quarantine the world with American
blood and treasure
Implies Treasonable Desire.
MI Fish is entitled to his views:
he Is not entitled to inSinuate, as
he does IN this statement that the
Hull-Roosevelt proposals look to the
polclng OF the world with Ameri-
can blood and treasure"
IF fhaU
with Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Hull
equally guilty Of an implied desire
which can only be classed as treas
onable-are some of the highest
ranking members of Mr.. Fishs
party. including the former Secre-
lary OF State. Mr.. Stimson.
Does Mr.. Fish genuinely believe
that his fellow members from New
YORK, Mr.. WadsWorth and Mr.. Bar
Ton, both OF whom are against the
arms embargo, and all the other
Republicans, in and out of CONGRESS.
VINO nave risen above partisanship
10 support the administration on
thls crlllcal lssue-does he believe
lhat these Americans are actuated
by other motives than that of safe
guarding the peace of the United
States? Or does he believe that thev
have been hoodwinked? His state
ment implies that one conclusion
or the other Is true; that these men.
ana all the others who stand for
the repeal of the embargo as the
best means Of keeping the United
states out OF war are either despi-
cable knaveS or fools.
Mr.. Fish knows that neither i'm
plication is true.
Hope for More Sane Tactics,
Is it too much to hope that in
luture discussion of the administra-
tlon neutrality bill those who are
Trying TO kill it will refrain from
readlng INTO 1T traitorous scheme
TO involve the United States in for
eign war?
Against the Hamilton Fishes and
the Father Coughlins and the others
VINO may be expected to confuse the
issue, 1 should like to summon as
witness. Senator George Norris. in
dependent. of Nebraska. Probably no
one Will deny that there is not a
more peace loving man in the
United States than Senator Norris.
Outstanding in career of high
moral courage and intellectual
honesty was his vote against our en-
terlng the World War in 1917.
Senator Norris believes in the poll
cy which is being urged upon Con-
gress by the President and the Sec
retary OF State. He believes. and has
so said In formal. reasoned state
ment, that this is the policy best call
culated to keep the United States
from involvement in war. He thinks
that the serving Of notice by this
country that our markets will be
open to all belligerents for the pur-
chase OF supplies on a cash-and-
carry basis will have strong tend
ency to prevent the axis powers from
starting world war.
No one can believe for q minute
that George Norris would support
any policy that he thought might
tend to spill American blood and
treasure In a world war.
AS between Hamilton Fish and
George Norris on this neutrality
issue. I'll take Norris, and I believe
the American people, if it comes to
the showdown that Mr.. Fish seems
to want, will do likewise.