Evening star., 1939-04-29

pTcScTfC WOIlu
peace e-on the g. Gould Lincoln.
one hand. and those who believe, on
the other, that the United States
should mind its own business.
1t is quite conceivable that Hitler's
speech to the Reichstag yesterday
was Intentionally designed to have
such an effect-just as President
Roosevelt's speeches in the past
have been aimed apparently to stir
up Germans not in sympathy with
the Nazi government. Certainly
Hitler's sarcastic remark to the
President that, with the vast re-
sources of America at hand, he (the
PRESIDENT could easily put this
countrys house in order and have
time to worry about the problems
of the world. is calculated to cause
Mr.. Roosevelt critics to smile sar-
donically.
Nothing better exemplities the
division between those Americans
who believe, with President Roose-
welt, that 1t is this Governments
duty to intervene in world affairs
and those who believe in remaining
aloof than the hearing before the
Foreign Relations Committee OF the
Senate a few hours after Hitler's
speech had been delivered. DR..
John C. Tansill, professor of Amer
ican history at Fordham University,
was discussing neutrality legisla-
ton. He told the committee that
this country is being edged into
warm reply to question by
Senator Hiram Johnson OF Cali
fornia. He added: "It's repetition
of the old theme song, Save the
World for Democracy.
Pepper Argues Issue.
Senator Pepper Of Florida, ardent
administrations, launched into an
argument-by series Of questions
to the witness-that since the eco
nomic effects of a war abroad on
America would be very great. the
Government was entirely justified
in intervening to preserve peace. In
other words, that President Roose-
welt was exactly right in trying.
either by threats or by pleas for
international conference. to alter
the course of events. Senator Pep
per, of course, did not use the word
threats" That. in brief, is the line
which all the "internationalists" in
this country take.
Questions by Senator Borah Of
Idaho, on the other hand, were AS
pronouncedly the views of the ma
tionalists" group. Borah brought
from the witness statements to the
effect that the United States, at the
close of he World War, had sought
in vain, through President Wilson,
to establish situation that would
mean world peace for a long period
Of years. President Wilson, Borah
pointed out, was at the height Of
his power-and yet the Versailles
peace" treaty was written, which
has brought only more war and
threats of war. Why, Senator
Borah asked, should it be argued
now that President Roosevelt, by
mixing in European politics. could
do better job?
IF President Roosevelt had placed
in his recent message to Hitler a
suggestion that Great Britain would
surrender some of the territory
taken from Germany, at the close
of the World War" said Senator
Borah, "the message would have
met a different reception" And
Senator johnson muttered, There
would have been no cheers from
Great Britain"
Argues Strict Neutrality.
In arguing for the strictest kind of
neutrality possible under all the cir
cumstances, DR.. Tansill insisted that
had the United States remained real
ly neutral in 1914, 1915 and 1916,
President Wilson's appeal for peace,
made in December, 1916, and ig-
nored by Germany. would have had
greater effect-rnight even have sue
ceeded.
In the light of what happened
today" interrupted Senator Vanden-
berg. referring to the rejection of
President Roosevelt's peace move by
Hitler, "is not history repeating
itself?"
1t has been the contention right
along of the so-called isolationists
that President Roosevelt, instead of
remaining neutral, has sought to in
volve this country in the European
situation on the side of the British
and the French. They have largely
withheld comment, since the Presi-
dent sent his peace appeals to Hitler
and Mussolini on April IA, but now
that Mr.. Hitler has been heard from
the bars will be lifted. Demands
that the United States Government
take no steps toward allying this
country with any of the disputants
abroad will be increased.
To many Americans Hitlerss asser-
tions that he has advanced only by
peaceful means-and without actual
war-will appear only a hollow
mockery. He has, of course. taken
Austria and smashed up Czecho-
Slovakia by show of overwhelming
armed force, very much as gunman
strips his unarmed victims. His
protestations of desires for peace, for
non-aggression, will be taken with
more than a grain of salt. 1t is true
that his speech seemed to promise
peace, not war. But at the same
time he put Poland on the spot. de-
manding the return of Danzig and a
passage through the Polish Corridor.
And he took backhanded swipe at
Great Britain, tearing up the naval
treaty limiting the size of the Ger
many Navy to IS per cent of that Of
Britain. This was his answer to
Britain's announced intention to
adopt conscription for military serv-
ice.
A Step Toward War.
The British are pointing out that
Germany Is in no case to Overtake