Evening star., 1939-10-11

III 6OOO ~ w VI
Feors German ReprisoIs If
We Sell Arms to Fronce
And Brituin
To the Editor Of The Star:
In this neutrality debate, both sides,
the pro-embargo group and the antis, are
agreed as to the objective-to keep the
United States out of war.
Admittedly the sustaining of either side
of the argument depends to some extent
on speculation as to the progress Of the
war and the developments In Europe
consequent upon our action or inaction.
1t is said that restriction on the sale
of arms, since it would benefit Germany,
would tend to prolong the war. Repeal
of the embargo now would, on the con-
trary, contribute to quick and decisive
allied victory, and the ultimate danger
to the United States inherent in Ger
man victory, would be avoided.
On the other hand, maintenance of the
present embargo on arms and implements
of war is defended as designed to keep us
out of a European conflict. On this
point it is said that American sales Of
munitions abroad, and American loans to
belligerents, inevitably involved us in the
last World War.
That this latter view should now pre-
vail is, I am convinced, abundantly
proved by the experience Of this Nation
during the period from 1914 to 1917. In
brief, the United States then insisted at
the outset, upon normal trade with bel
ligerents, subject to the rules of existing
international law. That policy was modi-
fed, in successive steps, by the action of
Great Britain. That nation, after pub
fishing list of absolute contraband (war
materials) and conditional contraband
(other goods subject to seizure if proved
to be destined for the use of belligerent
army, then proceeded to impose block
ade of the entire North Sea. Such a
blockade, flagrantly in violation of inter-
national law, was succeeded by an ex-
pansion Of the contraband list the net
effect of which was to shut off entirely
our trade with Germany and Austria
Hungary.
Parallel with the mounting restrictions
imposed by the English on our trade was
the war boom in the United States, stim-
ulated, of course, by the extraordinary
demands of the allies for guns and am
munition, as well as for wheat, cotton,
oil and steel. 1t was genuine boom and
few stopped to question its basic validity
The fact that by the early part of 1915,
the cash resources Of the allies were
were being made from the proceeds of
loans f1oated through j. P. Morgan &
Co., the American purchasing agents for
the allies, was lost upon the general
public.
Only one slight flaw developed in this
picture of American neutrality" and war
prosperity. The U-boat raised its ugly
head ships went down, and American
lives were lost on the Lusitania and other
ships. Americas natural feeling of out
rage and its demands on Germany for
cessation of submarine warfare were met
by the German response that England
was starving Germany by an illegal
blockade. For time, however, the sub
marine warfare abated. But not for long
This was the dilemma. The United
States, having acquiesced in the illegal
blockade by the English, had loaned
large sums to the allies. Could America
now turn back? BY no means, for the
overwhelming force of our new prosperity
had tied us irrevocably to the fortunes
Of the allied cause. America had en-
tered the war, and it was only question
of time before the final declaration which
was to send American boys to the French
trenches.
Again, in 1899, repeal of the arms en-
barge would produce situation basically
the same. Maintenance of the embargo
will not prevent the allies from procuring
food and raw materials Again the Eng
lish control of the sea will stop ship
ments of practically all kinds to Ger
many. With repeal of the embargo,
America will be taking the first step on
the road to casting its lot definitely with
the allies.
The United States is the only country
on earth capable of supplying in short
time, large amounts of planes, munitions
and guns. In war in which the time
element is all important, American ac-
ton which will secure stream of NUM-
tions to one side to the exclusion of the
other, will, as In 1915, 1915 and 1917 lead
to reprisal by the belligerent adversely
affected by this policy. What means of
reprisal Germany will take can be
guessed at; sinking of our ships, sabotage
in munitions factories, mistreatment of
American citizens in Germany. Protest
will be unavailing, for Germany will re-
fuse to abide by laws openly f1outed by
England.
To Offset such effects, proponents Of
the embargo repeal advocate the cash.
and-carry plan. Such plan would OBJ
viously not forestall the emulation of
the factors binding us to the allied cause
Whether we transport munitions in our
ships or in English ships is a difference
in degree, and not in kind The sale of
ever mounting quantities of guns, air
planes and war equipment to one nation
or group of nations, with its concomitant
prosperity, would place this Nation, emo
tionally as well as economically, in the
position of having no alternative, in case
Of German provocation, but declaration