Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1939-10-06
OTHERS VIEWS
BAILEY ON NEUTRALITY.

it seems advisable to make candid
statement to the people Of North
Carolina on the subject of legisla-
ton intended to preserve the neu-
trality of our country for the pur-
pose of keeping us out of the war.
There are three subjects before us:
CD the existing law; GU the House
bill; CD the Senate committee bill,
reported out September %, and be-
fore us only since then In due course
there is likely to be fourth, the
conference BILL in the firll phase. in
the nature of a compromise between
the pending bill and the bill passed
by the House in the recent session.
The first three have been approved,
in their time by the President and
great numbers Of people, and they
have also been opposed by many. 1t
is likely that the fourth-the confer
ence agreement, yet to be brought
out will likewise be both approved
and opposed. We must read our let
ters in light of these facts, and in
terpret many received prior to Sep
TENDER % as either supporting or
condemning a measure that was not
made known until that date. Let it
De borne in mind that under the
rules bill in new form may be
wrought out and submitted by the
conferees of House and Senate, and
such measure will not be subject to
amendments from the floor of either
branch Of the Congress.
Nevertheless one may De suffi-
GENTLY definite with respect to the
matter before us, and this is my pur-
pose in this public communication.
First of ALL | am for lkeepinc this
country out Of the present war and
| shall go far in the future to keep
It out of any war The welfare of
the human race demands of us that
this country shall escape the disaster
and ruin entailed by modern war
fare. The preservation of our con-
stitutional democracy and the well
fare of our people is more impor-
tant to mankind now than ever be-
fore. Moreover, l have the utmost
adherence Of any policy that could
possibly ensue in the sending of our
boys to battle. If we ever fight, it
must be on our own shores and in
the defense Of our homes against in
Vaders and OppressOrs. Commerce is
not worth the cost Of war and peace
full means Of promoting it are more
effectual than the means of force. /
am not inclined to think that So
called international rights are worth
the cost of war, and here too the
methods OF peace are more effectual
| believe that the involvement of
this country in a war at this time,
even if we should be successful,
would tend to bring this country to
ruin and our people into poverty,
and hundreds Of thousands of homes
into incurable sorrow. We should
prepare our defenses in the highest
degree. We must have a great navy,
a great merchant marine and a we'll
trained, efficient and modern mill
tary equipment. Some Of us NAV not
like this, but we are dealing with the
world as it is, and we must remem-
Der that there are in the world ma
tions that seem disposed to take what
ever they can, whenever they can,
wherever they can. Power to resist
there must be. Our peace may not
otherwise be preserved.
With the foregoing convictions
governing me, | have decided that
the new legislation, as reported by
the Committee of the Senate on For
eign Relations, will tend more to
make for the peace and security Of
our country than the existing law
The new legislation, when adopted
will remove our ships, not only from
the ports of bellgerents, but from
zones of danger designated in the
bill as combat zones. The existing
law leaves our ships free to sail the
seas regardless, carrying other than
arms, ammunition and implements
of war. We may be sure that the dis
tinctiOn will not be observed A mer-
chant ship carrying food cotton, to-
bacco, or people, would be just about
as likely to be attacked in the present
situation, as a ship fully armed and
carrying airplanes, explosives, or
guns. | subscribe to the policy that
we should not only play the part Of
a neutral, but we should also avoid
prOvocation, and seek to avoid i'll
cidents that might inilame our people
and change their minds, now 50 pro-
foundry attached to peace.
The policy proposed in the new
legislation has also the virtue of be-
ing consistent with the international
law of neutrality and with the his
toric policy of our country. That is
to say, the new bill is in accord with
experience and is approved by time
and the customs of nations. 1t will be