Evening star., 1939-10-17
Change in Embargo
Would Help End War.
Says Senator Austin
Proposed Legislation
Is Seen Promoting
National Defense

PUBLICAN, OF vermont spoke on
Changing Embargoes for National
Defense" last night in the National
Radio Forum, arranged by The Star
and broadcast over a Nation wide
network of the National Broadcast
ing Co. The text of his address
follows:
The United States does not intend
to go to war.
The United States does not intend
to intervene.
The United States does not intend
to become a belligerent.
In the pending war, the nationals
of the United States will be hin.
dered and inpeded by their Govern
ment in their commerce on the seas
with belligerents. They will not have
the aid of their Government in that
commerce. They will not have even
the immunity from interference by
their Government which has been
the common right of the nationals of
all neutrals during all times.
1t is absurd to say that the United
States intervenes when, by statute.
it embargoes its nationals, its vessels
on the high seas and everything 1t
produces.
Called Illogical.
The scare talk that lifting the
embargo means war beclouds ra-
tional consideration of the facts and
policy. It should be given little
weight. 1t seems to me to be illogi-
cal. We cannot become q belligerent
and 60 to war unless some foreign
state attacks us, or unless we attack
some other state.
On the first alternative, I point
to the fact that the Congress Is in
extraordinary session for the ex-
press purpose of enacting additional
defense legislation calculated to
build up our strength so that no
foreign state will choose to attack us.
On the second alternative you are
conscious that the determination Of
the people of this country to remain
at peace is such that we will not
become an aggressor and declare war
on any state, save as a last defense
of our security and the principles
which constitute the life of the Re-
public.
During the course of my discus
sion hope to make clear that the
legislation which Congress now de-
bates is designed to avoid causes for
war, and to remove, as far as pos
sible, from the United States even
the chance events which might irri-
tate our own people into warlike
fervor. Without an act Of Congress.
we cannot become a belligerent, we
cannot intervene in a military way,
we cannot 60 to war.
Substitution Of Broad Embargo.
We consider the pending question
in the light of the settled purpose Of
Congress to not send our sons and
daughters overseas to engage in for
eign wars. The last act, even Of
national defense, is the mobilizing
Of the youth Of America to engage
in mortal combat. So let us settle
back and calmly consider the choice
that we have to make ostween en-
bargoes.
We start with a true premise,
namely: The pending legislation
constitutes a substitution of broad
embargo for the narrow embargo
which now exists.
The erroneous impression, implicit
in the popular slogan Lift the En-
barge, and Substitute Cash-and-
Carry" is corrected through the de-
bate which is proceeding in the
Senate.
Now that a state Of war has been
proclaimed, we are not to choose
between embargo and no embargo.
We are to choose beween two en-
bargoes. The present one prohibits
exports Of arms, ammunition, or
implements of war" The contem-
plated substitute embargo would bar
from the seas American vessels,
American men, and American arti-
cles and materials. II it should be-
come law, nothing American what
ever could be in commerce on the
high seas between the United States
and belligerent port, between the
United States and a neutral port,
where the commerce enters or passes
through combat areas to be pre-
scribed by the President, because
title must change to the purchaser
before it leaves the United States.
Curb on Citizens Travel.
The deprivation of freedom Of our
citizens to travel would be extensive,
for it would be unlawful, except
under rules prescribed by the Pres
ident, for any citizen of the United
States to proceed into or through
combat areas, or to travel on any
vessel of such belligerents.
An exception is created favoring
Canada, Passengers and articles or
materials could be lawfully carried
by American vessels on lakes, rivers,
and inland waters as well as by air.
craft over lands, bordering the
United States, though such transpor-
tation would be subject to such re-
strictions, rules and regulations as
the President shall prescribe.
The unfortified line. 5000 miles
long, between Canada and the
United States, moves us to favor the
cause of Canada as a protection Of
our tranquility.
Moreover, this accords with out
ancient friendship, and the homo
gently of principles and ideals Of our
two countries.
The harsh restrictions on vessels
includes loss of established transpor-
tation routes and connections gained
in a competitive battle at great cost
to our Government and its citizens
through 20 years of struggle. In
parlance Of the sea I'VE would not
keep the berth warm"
Loss to Producers.
Also included would be the loss
to our producers of fruit, cotton,
wheat, and other agricultural prod
ucts, of a delicately balanced re-
frigerating, storage, transportation
and marketing organism, the reper-
cussions of which must be cushioned
with taxpayers money; the depriva-