Evening star., 1939-09-02

signi icant -
that President G. Gould Lincoln.
Roosevelt has already given assur.
ances he will do all he can to pre-
vent the involvement of America
In such position he will have strone
backing.
On the other hand, it is expected
there will be great pressure
brought to bear to amend the pres
ent neutrality laws, doing away
with the mandatory embargo
against the shipment of arms and
munitions from this country to the
belligerent nations. The President's
demand heretofore has been for q
repeal of the embargo.
If there is no formal declaration
of war in Europe and hostilities
continue without such declaration
it is suggested that the President
might not feel compelled to apply
the embargo, just as he has not
applied an embargo in the Far East
where Japan and China have been
at grips for the last two years.
With no session of Congress called,
the Chief Executive would have q
free hand in the matter.
Enormous Pressure in Offing.
II there should come a formal
declaration of war, or if the Presi-
dent should feel impelled to declare
a state of war exists abroad and ap-
ply the embargo, there will be an
immediate demand from those
whose sympathies are with Great
Britain and France for repeal of
the law which would prevent their
purchasing war supplies in this
country. And certainly strong de-
mand for repeal on the part of those
who desire to make such sales
abroad. The pressure will be enor-
nous.
On the other hand, those Amer
leans who are anxious to prevent
any participation of this country in
the war abroad and whose sympa
thleS are not with the British and
the French are likely to take ar
opposition position and fight repea
OF the embargo. They will also de-
mand action by the President tr
carry out the spirit of the neutrality
laws whether there is a formal dec
laration of war or not.
v. F. w. Asks Session.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars
meeting in convention in Boston
already have adopted resolution
urging the President to call session
| OF Congress without delay. The rea
son given for this action was thai
Congress would act as a stabilizine
influence and might prevent actor
| by the administration which woule
cause this country to become in
volved.
Republican spokesmen have ranged
themselves strongly in opposition tc
any step that would force an entry
OF the United States into war. That
was the burden of their song weeks
and months ago and in recent DAYS
1t has been reiterated Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts
has reannounced it within the last
eight hours. Senator Nye of North
Dakota, speaking apparently for the
Republicans of the Northwestern
part OF the country, has taken a
similar attitude.
Democrats have been no less cut
spoken against American partici-
patton in the war abroad. Senate,
Walsh of Massachusetts, Senator
Wheeler of Montana and oth~s
have warned against any move thA,
might involve this country. The
President has just added his own
potent voice, saying that the United
States can remain aloof from the
war.
Party Lines to Fall.
II the showdown comes, however
over the question of repeating the
mandatory embargo against the sale
and shipment of arms to belligerent
nations, party lines may be smashed
Some Republicans will be found yot-
ing for repeal and some Democrats
will vote against it.
Senators Vandenberg of Michigan
and Taft of Ohio have in the past
ranged themselves strongly in op-
position to any step that might lead
to American involvement in the
European war. Both have been
prominently mentioned as possible
presidential candidates and both are
candidates for the nomination
today. Thomas E. Dewey, New
York district attorney and also a
strong candidate for the G. o. p
presidential nomination next wear
has still to express himself on inter-
national relations.
The attitude of the Roosevelt ad-
ministration has been in the past
antl-Hltler and pro-British and pro-
French, in the controversies abroad
To many of the political leaders
IN both parties it seems incredible
that the administration should
change its attitude now that hos
tilities have broken out. It NAV be
that the administration will wait to
feel out the public sentiment. now
that the Germans have actually
forced the fighting abroad, before