Evening star., 1939-09-26

nations Will De QlSdppoIlIeu. Tol
it will mean that, since they are
without big manufacturing plants
and arsenals, they will be at the
mercy of aggressor nations. or else
will have to store up in peacetlme
abnormally large quantities OF arms
and ammunition.
All further efforts to bring about
disarmament or general reduc-
tion in armament, it now is felt
by smaller governments, will have
to be discarded, and America, the
champion of disarmament for many
wears, will never be able to use the
argument again that it IS safe for
small nations to forego armament
preparations because they can al
ways buy from the larger ones.
Smaller nations in the Western
Hemisphere will feel the pinch OF
the new policy if the arms embargo
is retained, for, once the precedent
Is established, it is unlikely that
any nations hereafter will wish to
take the chance of waiting TILL a
crisis in international affairs arises
before beginning to seek defense
weapons. The present law excludes
Central and South American re-
publics, but, if the embargo against
Europe is maintained, it Is safe to
assume it would be applied later in
this hemisphere.
Small Countries Plight.
There is also the belief that
smaller countries will not wish to
establish trade relationships for
needed materials in peacetime IT,
at any moment on the approach OF
an emergency in their relations
with other countries, America would
cut off the flow of materials needed
for defense.
The fate of the smaller nations
everywhere rests with the American
Congress. Shall there be three or
four large countries dominating the
world hereafter in new balance
of power? Will not the smaller
countries begin to surrender little
by little their political and eco
nomic independence because of a
fear that they will be defenseless
even in combination with other
small countries against the big mo-
nopolies of the world? These ques-
tions are heard often in diplomatic
circles as the probable effect of
Americas embargo policy is studied,
not merely in its immediate rela-
tionship to the European war but
to the laws and customs of nations
generally hereafter.
The average diplomat here is
careful not to mix in American az
fairs, but he asks rather cynically
why the United States, by retaining
the present law, allows airplanes
and munitions to 60 to Russia,
whose army is now in Poland occu-
pying the territory of defenseless
nation. At the same time it Is
asked why the United States has
continued to supply Japan and
China with arms when engaged in
one of the most devastating wars
in all history. The official answer
is that Japan, China and Russia
have, respectively, made no formal
declarations of war. Under the
present law, which a considerable
number of citizens are asking shall
go unchanged, these inconsistencies
have developed.
Reason for 30O-Mile Zone.
It is significant that Central and
South American republics are be-
ginning to ask what is the trend
of policy of the United States, not
only toward the expectation of arms
and ammunition, but toward the
defense of the Western Hemisphere
against European intrigue. The
conference going on at Panama is
expected to clarity the rights of
neutrals. The proposal reported
from Panama for 300mile limit
as a zone outside the coasts of
North and South America within
which there must be no belligerent
operations meets with approval of
Government officials here because
1t is in line with President Roose-
ritorial waters may be construed as
extending as far out into the ocean
as our interests may require.
1t is beginning to be understood
here now why the President went
out of his way the other day to
draw attention to the presence of
foreign submarines in American
waters. Mr.. Roosevelt's motive was
promptly assumed by critics to be
associated with desire to dramatize
the war or possible attack. Actual
ly Mr.. Roosevelt now is revealed as
having endeavored to drive home
a point which would be noted in the
conference of neutrals at Panama,
namely, that there is need for a
zone large enough to protect coast
wise shipping and inter-American
transportation from the hazards of
search or seizure by either the