Evening star., 1939-09-12
Canada Declares War

The decision of the Dominion OF
Canada to take up arms with Britain
In the supreme effort now being
made to turn back the tide OF Nazi
aggression serves to bring the Euro
pean war step closer to the United
States, and at the same time it lends
added force to the objections which
have been raised to the embargo pro-
visions of this country's neutrality
laws.
To many Americans the bitter
lighting now under way on the con-
tinent must have seemed remote and
far removed from the daily routine
OF their lives. If for no other reason,
that would be true because OF the
wholly unjustifiable character OF the
War-the wanton recklessness with
which Nazi Germany has forced the
major powers of Europe into deadly
conflict. But now that Canada, a
nation whose interests closely par
allel our own, has entered the
struggle that sense of sheltered
security must be modified.
1t is true, of course, that Canada,
as part of the United Kingdom, has
q more direct interest in the out
come of the war than has this
country. But, forgetting for the
moment the ties Of sentiment that
bind Canada to the mother country,
1t must be recognized that the Do
minion has an economic and political
stake in the struggle with which the
United States is very vitality con-
cerned. During recent years there
has been considerable sentiment in
Canada opposed to participation in
another European war and, against
that background, the almost unani-
NOUS vote in the Canadian Legisla-
ture in support of the declaration Of
war. can only be interpreted as
meaning that Canada sees a serious
threat to her own security in the
possibility of a defeat for Great
Britain and France. With that
possibility, this country, in its own
Interest, should be equally concerned.
When the Dominion declared war
It became necessary for President
Roosevelt to apply to Canada the
embargo against the sale of arms,
ammunition and implements of war,
$hArohvy al ir,o fip,r Toyolo
source of supply for the embattled
European democracies. And Of still
greater Importance, the embargo
makes it impossible for this country
to aid Canada in any of the i'm
portant categories covered by the
legislation, regardless of how much
1t may be to our own advantage
to extend such aid. The irony of this
situation becomes complete with the
realization that we may still furnish
to Japan-another combatant-or to
Italy-a neutral with axis ties-the
material which we cannot send to
Canada, England or France.
Canada, largely because of what
she considered the security of her
geographical position, is very poorly
prepared for a war with a nation
as well armed as Germany. And so
long as the embargo remains in effect
the United States will continue to
contribute to Hitler's advantage in
that respect, although American
sympathies are overwhelmingly with
Canada, and despite the fact that
the defeat of the Dominion would
operate to the distinct prejudice of
American interests.
Believing that the best interests
OF this country, both abroad and
IN this hemisphere, will be served by
the defeat of Hitlerism, The Star
hopes that the President will call a
special session of Congress to recon-
slider the question of our neutrality
legislation, and that the embargo
will be promptly repealed in favor
OF a cash-and-carry plan which
would open our markets to any
nation able to pay cash for their
purchases and transport them in
their own ships.