Evening star., 1939-08-29
Early u. 5. Entry
In War on Dictators
Urged by Stirling
Admiral Tells V. F. W.
To Act Quickly to
Guard Our Security
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
BOSTON. Aug 29-Rear Admiral
Yates Stirling. jr, retired, told the
national convention of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars today that United
States security depends on defeat
ing the dictators when war starts,
and the one way sure to do that will
be to go into the war at first"
Asserting this country was mot
elf-corltained.' Admiral Stirling de-
clared in prepared address 'the
framing of neutrality laws to keep
us out of war-without taking into
consideration the terrible result to
us of dictatorial victory-is like
'whistling in the dark" or 'flddling
while Rome is burning"
There is but one way to keep us
out of war, for the war not to hap
pen he added. Therefore, as an
important organ of this complicated
world We should, instead of keeping
out of foreign disputes that will effect
our prosperity and security, go into
them with both feet.
Would Satisfy U. S.
THAT will be our business and we
should see that the dispute is set
tied to our satisfaction as much as
to that of all other nations involved.
Our satisfaction will not mean war
but peace"
Admiral Stirling, who was COM
mandant of the Sd Naval District at
New York when he retired in 1886
after 46 years in the Navy, spoke on
Neutrality Policies That Lead to
War"
The present neutrality law,
placing an embargo on arms to ma
tionS at war, he said. surely will
cause us great economic pains-if
not complete dlSaSter-to our entire
industrial structure; for in the next
war We shall find that all goods and
supplies will be declared contraband
by all belhgerents.
we have passed neutrality laws
to save us from the big bad wolf, yet
we calmly permit Great Britain and
France to protect us with their
navles in the Atlantic, which per-
mltS us to send almost our entire
fleet to guard us in the Pacific.
Would Deny Aid to Protectors.
IF Great Britain and France
should be forced to fight against the
aggression of the dictatorS. We, the
present recipients of this protection,
have decided through these neutral
lty laws that our trusted friends are
to be given not even the help in
material which is allowed under the
rules OF international laws framed
for the trade Of neutrals with bel
EgerentS.
Instead We close our ports to
those who are today making secure
our Atlantic Coast, where are our
largest cities and greatest industrial
life. 1t certainly sounds both un-
grateful and not at all to our own
best interest"
Voicing opposition to any Amer
lean embargo on shipment of food
stuffs and raw materials to bellig-
erent nations, Hugh R. Wilson,
American Ambassador to Germany,
said last night the threat of clos
ing access to all such markets rs
definite encouragement to those
abroad who argue that their coun-
tries must be made economically
sufficient so that in time of
crisis they will not be deprived of
essential goods
Opposes Embargo on Arms.
He also opposed an embargo on
arms, and advocated a return to in
ternational law to solve the worlds
Ills.
There is no guaranteed panacea
that will keep this Nation at peace"
he said, but added:
There are two factors, however.
that will contribute the most to the
. maintenance of peace. First, the
exercise by the Executive of wisdom
and prudence in the initial stages
of dispute, provided that sufficient
scope is given SO that he can op-
crate with a degree of suppleness
and be free to meet with ingenuity
any one of the countless aspects of
foreign difficulties which may arise
The second is an enlightened and
vigorous public opinion so educated
and so resolute that it can exercise
reason even during the passions
which propaganda and great for
eign war would let loose"