Evening star., 1939-09-02
Hopes VS.. Facts

The question uppermost in the
minds of every American citizen at
this dark hour in world history is
Can we stay out of the European
war? President Roosevelt was asked
the question yesterday at his press
conference and his reply naturally
gives measure of comfort to the
millions of men and women-fathers
and mothers-who have poignant
memories of the horrors of 1917 and
1918. The President said he not only
hopes sincerely that the United
States can steer clear of the barbaric
conf1ict-but believes that we will be
able to escape the catastrophe if we
chart the proper course. He pledged
himself and his administration to
exert every possible effort toward
avoiding the whirlpools and cross
currents of involvement.
Mr.. Roosevelt is entertaining no
Illusions. however. as to the gravity
OF Americas position. At this crucial
moment, when his hands and those
OF his advisers on foreign pollcy
should be free to take advantage of
every favorable opportunity to safe
guard American interests, he finds
himself and the State Department
denied necessary freedom of action
by a dangerous remnant of the
1887 Neutrality Act-a provision
that when the President recognizes
the existence of state of war be-
tween two or more nations, or
when war Is declared, he must
proclaim an embargo on shipments
OF arms, ammunition and imple-
ments OF war to the belligerents.
The appalling dispatches from Eu-
rope should leave no doubt in any
ones mind that state of war exists
between beleaguered Poland and
goose-stepping Germany, and that
entry OF Great Britain and France
Into the fight in fulfllment of their
pledges to defend Poland may come
at any moment. Yet, when the ma
jor battle lines are drawn between
the ruthless and formidable forces
OF totalitarian aggression on the
one hand and the armies of
democracy on the other, the Presi-
dent perforce must do thoroughly
outrageous thing. He will be COM
PEELED by misnamed neutrality law
to strike what well might be mortal
blow-not at the aggressors-but at
the victims Of aggression. That blow
would cut off all war Supplies to Brit
ain and France in their hour of
greatest need. Technically, the en-
oargo would be operative simulta-
neously against Germany-but actu-
ally 1T would mean nothing to the
well-prepared Nazis. The delivery of
such blow against besieged democ-
racy Will not keep America out of
war. On the contrary, there is good
reason to believe that it will seri-
ously imperil the security of this
continent; that it may actually bring
the threat of war closer to our doors
by enlarging the horizons of con-
quest.
In his f1reside radio discussion of
the world crisis tomorrow night
President Roosevelt quite likely will
seek to bring the American people
face to face with some of these dan
gers that beset the ship of state.
Then or later he may ask that Con-
gress remove the bonds committing
hlm to mandatory line of action
one that is apt to contribute to the
collapse of democratic civilization as
we know it. With these bonds re-
moved, he would be free to plot and
TO hold fast to a course of practical
eHectlve and safe neutrality best
calculated to save the United States
from being drawn into the mael-
strom OF European desolation and
despair.