Evening star., 1939-04-23
Demands Continue
That j. ). Avoid
Entang|ement
Foreign Policy Leading
Country Toward War,
Senator Holt Charges
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


President Roosevelt a week ago
. electrified America and the world
with messages to two dictator ma
tions of Europe urging an interna-
tional conference to halt "aggres-
sion" for 10-year period.
Immediate reaction among men,
bers of his own political party was
largely favorable, among the more
conservative Democrats as we'll as
the New Dealers. In Republican
quarters the inclination was to sus-
pend judgment and to do nothing
that might interfere with any plan
that would make for peace abroad.
That is still the Republican atti-
tude, although the opinion is ex-
pressed that the Presidents plea
would have had far more chance of
favorable reception had he not in
the past-the immediate past-made
public statements criticizing Chan
cellor Hitler and Premier Mussolini.
Mr.. Roosevelt's peace message,
however, did not abate the demands
on Capitol Hill that this country
remain free from entanglements
abroad, and, above all, that this Ma
tion not be involved in any Euro
pean war if it comes. Within 48
hours after the dispatch of the mes
sage, Senator Walsh of Massachu-
sets, chairman of the Naval Affairs
Committee. addressed the Senate.
urging strict neutrality in the event
OF war and the upbuilding of ma
tlonal defense as Americas best
course. Other Senators joined in
urging against American involve
ment abroad.
Holt Attacks Administration.
Last night Senator Holt of West
Virginia, an nti-administration
Democrat, in nationally broadcast
speech, attacked the foreign policy
OF the President. Declaring war is
gradual process" and that the
declaration of war is one of the last
incidents" in chain of affairs. Sem
ator Holt charged the administra-
ton has been gradually leading this
country toward foreign involvement.
The leaders of the administra-
tion's foreign policy" he said. were
almost unanimous in their belief in
active participation in European af-
fairs through our entrance into the
League of Nations. Their back
ground is one of belief in our active
intervention in foreign affairs.
president Roosevelt was active
In the movement to have us become
member of the League of Nations.
In speech at Chicago he called for
'our participation in a policy Of
quarantine. 1t is needless for me to
tell you that his policy since then
has been one of Intervention in Eu-
ropean affairs. He recently advocat-
ed such a policy. That intervention
has been called parallel policy by
some. British spokesmen have told
Of that policy with the United
States. The French government
spokesmen are overthankful in their
praise"
Possible to Stay Out.
. Senator Holt said I'VE are told we
must take part to save the democ-
racies,' and he added. they are in
danger not from staying out of war,
but from participation in suicidal
mass destruction"
IF we mind our business, we can
stay out" the Senator declared. by
staying out, we will do more to help
the cause of democracy than by
participation.
1--WE will be involved if we try to
save the faces of those who have
blundered. But I, for one, believe
1t is far more important to save the
faces of the young men of America
than it is to save the face of social
tea hound who has contributed
enough money to the party to be
rewarded by becoming an ambas-
sador to foreign country"
The desire to keep America free
from any European war is manifest
In the present attitude of many leg
islators toward neutrality legislation,
. which is in the process of considera-
ton by the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee and the House For
eign Affairs Committee.
There is a distinct and strong op-
position to any amendment to the
neutrality laws which would permit
the President to name an aggressor
nation-although some say he al
ready has done so.
Little Change Expected.
The indications are that if any,
thing Is done in the way of neutral
ity legislation at this time, it will
be either mere re-enactment of the
present "cash and carry provision
or the adoption of the Pittman
amendment which would permit the
sale of American arms and NUM-
tions, as we'll as other supplies. to
any belligerent nations, providing
they paid cash for them and carried
them away in other than American
ships
In the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, opinion as to what
should be done varies widely, so
widely that the status quo may be
retained, with possibly the re-enact-
ment OF the present cash and carry
provisions of the law, due to expire
May /.
Tomorrow the Senate committee
continues its hearings on neutrality
legislation with Gen. Hugh S. John
son, former head of the N. R. A.,
as a witness. 1t is Chairman Pitt
mans hope that it will be possible
to conclude the hearings at an early
oate, ana that consideration may
then be given to proposed changes
which run from outright repeal of
the neutrality laws to the PROPOSAL
to re-enact the cash-and-carry pro-
visions and let it go at that.
Struggle to Win Public On.
Within the present week it is ex-
pected that the answers of the die
tator nations to the Presidents peace
message will have been made, or at
least that their attitude will have
become clear. Hope persists in some