Evening star., 1939-01-23
Wants United Stutes
To Continue Neutral
Believes Spanish Civil War
Does Not Concern
This Country
TO the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
The seventy-sixth Congress finds the
United States drawn into q vortex of
European politics. There are those who
favor strict neutrality and those who
would participate In heinous wars for
the empty gain of dubious political
ascendency.
To reconcile the differences between
these two widely separated bodies and to
decide on our future policy will be the
problem Of the present Congress. And
II history is indeed the great teacher 1t
is purported to be, then perhaps its pages
may be turned back to 4 time, not so
long ago, when the first Government OF
the United States was faced with .
situation strikingly similar to that which
motivated the neutrality clamor Of the
present day.
At that time the French Revolution
eliminated in = war between Britain
and France. President Washington, see
ing America still reeling from the effects
Of the Revolutionary War, resolved to
keep the country out OF foreign complica-
ton Of neutrality on April ~, 1893.
Immediately two factions arose: one
side favoring assistance to France, the
other bitterly opposing. There followed
dissensions and designations from his
cabinet, acrimonious debates and virulent
expressions OF opinion. Throughout this
trying period of his second administra-
ton George Washington steadfastly ad-
hered to his resolution to avoid European
turmoils. Through his wisdom the United
States was saved from the trials and
vicissitudes Of another war, which an
alignment with France would have surely
precipitated.
Paralleling our early history, the Span
lsh Revolution developed into q war in
1885 between two major political divi-
sions. President Roosevelt, realizing
America had not yet completely recov-
cred from the distress Of the World War,
like George Washington, desired to keep
the country out Of European troubles.
To that end our present neutrality bill
was passed
And again political opinion became
widely divided, one side clamoring for
aid to international Spain, the other
maintaining America should mind her
own American business
But where George Washington stood
firm, President Roosevelt gave in. He
suggested to Congress modification Of
our neutrality laws.
Before long the Seventy-sixth Con-
gress will have before it the enormous
task OF segregating evil propaganda from
valid information, weighing the results,
and then rendering its decision. To sway
the Congress, rampant pro-extremists
agitate for a repeal Of the neutrality law;
others sedulously insist the Spanish en-
barge should not be lifted To that end
there persist controversies and malignant
expressions of animosities.
Meanwhile America prays that our
Congress will have the wisdom and cour-
age of our first President and take no
course which might jeopardize our neu-
trality and lead this country into en-
tangling alliances with turbulent Europe.
America believes Europe will emerge
from its squabbles with but q few sur
face scratches. In time these scratches
will heal. Europe Is like that We cannot
meddle in European affairs and still hope
to come out on top. We tried 1t in the
World War. and instead of Saving the
world for democracy" we found ourselves
surrounded by Socialists and Communists
and footed the bills Of the enemy and ally
alike.
America, still carrying the burden Of
the World War, prays that it will be
spared the heartaches which q partici-
patton in the present European conflict
must surely bring us. JULIA CARPIN.
January 81.