Evening star., 1939-09-13
Neutrality Hazards

NeutrulIty n0Z0rdS
Spokesman for the Senate isola-
ZIONIST bloc have served notice on
, the President that they are prepared
to wage a long and determined fight
against repeal of the arms embargo
If he should call special session of
Congress to consider that question.
1t has been said, and it is probably
true, that a prolonged legislative
struggle over this issue would create
the impression abroad that the
United States is seriously divided as
to its proper foreign policy, and that
we can best perform our obligations
as a great world power if we present
a united front on matters of interna-
tional significance.
But If there is such a division of
opinion on so vital matter-and
undoubtedly there is-no good can
result from refusal to face it. Full
and candid debate can serve useful
purpose by clearing up the confusion
which has attended the neutrality
controversy, and should contribute
to that approximate unanimity of
opinion at home which is of first i'm
portance to any nation in a time of
world wide crisis. This is subject only
to the qualification that the debate
must be legitimate debate-not a fill
buster-and that all of the partici-
pants conf1ne themselves to discus
sion of the facts as they see them,
scrupulously refraining from any
suggestion of engaging in partisan
politics.
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan,
whose sincerity is not open to ques-
ton, conferred yesterday with Sem
ators Borah and Nye, and it may be
assumed that he spoke for them as
we'll as himself when he declared
that vigorous fight would be made
in the Senate for retention of the
embargo. The Michigan Senator as
serted that the embargo is our best
guarantee against involvement in
the European war. Since this posi-
tion is the essence of the isolationist
position, it should be examined with
extreme care.
The embargo now in force forbids
the expectation of arms, ammunition
and implements of war to any of
the participants in the European
conflict. But is does not forbid the
expectation of the raw materials
essential to the manufacture of the
embargoed commodities. Senator
Vandenberg said that 1--WE cannot be-
come an arsenal for one belligerent
without ultimately becoming target
for the other" If the Senator is con-
vinced of the soundness Of that
contention he should be willing to
explain how we can provide one bel
ligerent with the raw materials for
an arsenal without becoming a tar
get for the other. 1t is significant
that neither Senator Vandenberg nor
any other isolationist has yet ad-
vanced such an explanation, and
they cannot do so for the obvious
reason that the embargo does not
insure our neutrality in any realistic
sense of the word and is not shield
against this country's involvement
in war.
The weakness and the folly of the
position taken by the embargo advo-
Gates become all the more apparent
in the light of the fact that our pres
ent effort at legislated neutrality Of
fers no protection against the sink
ing of American merchant ships, but
rather gives assurance that they will
be sunk. Under existing law Ameri-
cans vessels can attempt to transport
anything except embargoed goods to
any belligerent. And it is as certain
as anything can be that each side
will do its utmost to prevent the
shipment of essential raw materials
to the other. In Germany's case, a
blockade can be enforced only by
the use of submarines, and there can
be not the slightest doubt but that
Hitler's sea raiders would sink or
capture an American ship bound for
France with a load of copper as
quickly as they would sink the same
vessel if it carried finished shells.
If the sinking of merchant ship
ping can involve nation in war
and there are many who believe that
was an important factor in leading
us into the World War-it must be
admitted that the embargo affords us
no protection in that respect.
Unless America is to discontinue
all trade with belligerents, and even
the isolationists have not advocated
that drastic step, effective protection
against war-as far as legislative
neutrality can be protection against
war-can be secured only by a
revival of the cash-and-carry plan,
which would open our markets
to all nations able to pay cash for
the things they buy and to transport
their purchases in their own ships.
With that real safeguard in existence,