Evening star., 1939-09-20

Crltlcal tlmeS. JUST now, tnaC wei
fare" consists of keeping America
out of war. How to accomplish this
purpose has provoked already some
fundamental differences of opinion,
not the least embarrassing of which
is the tendency on each side to at
tribute wrong motives to those who
disagree.
Thus, the advocates of the repeal
of the arms embargo are accused
of wanting merely to help Britain
and France, whereas the defenders
of the present law are held to be
willing to see the democracies de-
feated by the dictatorship countries.
The suggestion that each side en-
leavor to look at the question from
an American point Of view, without
taking sides, is heard frequently,
but the public expressions from
Senators in both camps indicate
how little heed is being paid to it.
Thus, Senator Borah of Idaho,
leader of the pro-embargo faction,
says in published interview that
Soviet Russia's invasion of Poland
facilitates the restoration of peace,
that Britain and France are, in ef-
feet, pulling their punches" on the
western front, and that there is
something 'phony" about the Eu-
Aropean war.
Nazi- -BOrah Similarity.
1t would be natural for opponents
of the Borah interview to point to
the Berlin dispatches of today, iden-
tical with the Idaho Senator's rea-
soning. The Nazis are urging peace,
and asking naively what on earth
the British and French could pos
.sibly be fighting for, now that their
pledge to Poland has been unsuc-
fully honored and Poland has been
gobbled up.
The Nazis, like Senator Borah,
have difficulty in crediting the
British and French with sincerity
If Mr.. Borah has been correctly
quoted he, too, fails to grasp the
reasons why Britain and France,
after having patiently submitted to
solemn pact AT Munich, now see
no chance of enduring peace with
German government headed by
Herr Hitler, who in a worldwide
broadcast promised that he would
not seek one more inch of territory
in Europe and then, few months
later attacked and occupied Poland.
Mr. Borah has not the slightest
sympathy with .Hitlerism and is as
violently opposed to dictatorship as
any man in America, but he will
be looked upon, because of his pub
lished remarks, as ready to acqui-
esce in world situation in which
HltleriSm is triumphant.
Believes Allies Should Quit.
1t is on this point that American
policy will be debated from now on.
Mr.. Borah believes that Britain and
France should accept defeat and
make peace at once, trusting that
Hitler will not threaten their ter
ritory or possessions. On the other
side of the controversy will be found
many who believe that if Hitlerism
is not crushed, even though it takes
long war of attrition. America
= will be compelled to build the big
gest Navy and air force in the world
and be ready 10 ward off threats
from any European quarter.
If Britain is defeated she will have
no power to use her navy to protect
America, and she will not be con-
cerned over the possible transfer of
certain islands close to our Atlantic
Coast for air bases, which subject
is reported authoritatively to have
been under discussion between Ber-
lin and London in one of the nu-
merous conferences on "appease-
ment' in recent years.
Nobody knows today except Presi-
dent Roosevelt what the basis of his
message to the special session of
Congress this week will be, but it
is hoped in many quarters that Mr..
Roosevelt will refrain from discuss
ing the issues of the war itself and
will lay the foundation for return
by Congress to the historic princi-
piles of international law governing
the rights of neutrals in wartime.
This means that all belligerents
are treated alike by the exporting
country and that risks of trans
portation and financial loss are pri-
marily with the importers of NUM-
tions and contraband of war.
Defense Is Larger Issue.
The Congress, whether or not
urged to do SO by the President,
will begin to investigate the shape
of American preparedness. B. NJ
Baruch, head of the War Industries
Board under President Wilson, says
the United States is woefully un-
d. prepared to defend herself He
urged America to stay out of war
but to prepare intensively, so Hitler