The Omaha guide., 1939-09-23

phctic than ever, seem the Wofu'
of Lord Grey, Premier Of Britain
spoken on that fateful night il
1914 when tho ctart of the frs
World War was but a few brio
hours away: "The lights r. go
inc out one by one over Europe
They will not be 1t again in on
lifetime" And, %uppermost in th'
minds of every American is tn
rolo that our nation ian and
should play in world affairs II
this time of dsaster abroad.
The President has appealed by
radio to the people to maintain
neutrality. He has officially pro-
ella, med a state Of neutrality, and
has. as required by law, declared
effective the general arms en-
barge imposed by the neutrality
act. Going by all available evil
denoe, the American people, sym
pathetic as the bulk of them are
with the bulk Of them with
the cause Of Britain and France,
are vigorously determined to re-
main neutral in fact if not in
thought. The dtsiIusAnning les
sons learned from our participa-
ton in the last war have not been
forgotten. Press polls of menr
bers of Congress indicate practic-
ally unanimous opposition to a
gain sending AEF. to other lands.
So do the editorial exprets ions
of leadig newspapers.
1t is thought certain that the
President will soon call a special
session of Congress to re-examine
N neutrality legislation. The
Administration firmly believes
that we should sell arms and any
thing else to warning powers on
a cash and carry basis, to be
transported in their own ships.
The principal conflict between
White House and Congress last
session was caused by this. The
isolations won and the in toto
embargo was retained. Up TO the
very moment when Europe vert to
war, isolationist feeling was APP
parently on tho increase. But in
these tragic and stirring times
change in sentiment can and does
come with lightning like rapidity.
Late information indicates that
a number Of Senators and Repre-
sentatives who opposed the Roo
sevelt- Hull plan have now changed
their position. The vote was ex-
tremeiy close when the bill came
to tho floor last session, and it
IL possible the cash-and-carry
plan nov has a majority.
Theoretically, the cash-and-
carry system is a neutral one
any nation can come TO our shores
get what it wants and takes it
home. In actual fact, as everyone
knows, it would be of immense
aid to the democracies. England
absolutely dominates the seas
and the trade lanes. In the first
few days Of the war England cap
tured several German merchant
men, and forced others to seek
haven in neutral harbors where
they must remain indefinitely.
British warships, in the view Of
military experts, will make it pos
sible for the allies to carry on
trade with this country on a near
normal basis. And German ship
seeking to make a run here and
back would face almost certain
destruction Or capture.
There is no less favorable
phase of the cash-and-carry plan
60 far as the British and French
are concerned-and that lies in
the belief held by q nuEnber OF
qualified men that we will be able
to give the democracies relative
ly few military supplies-that our
own re-armament program will
swallow practically all the arms
and munitions anu planes we can
produce. That remains to be seen.
Looking at the war generally,
there is one note Of hope-the
opinion that it cannot last a very
long time, because Of Germany
great economic weakness, and the
clear desire Of the masses of her
people for peace. One Of the best
experts says that Germany might
past two years if the French
fight a defensive war, and moi
more than one year If the French