Evening star., 1939-04-17
Strict Neutrality
And Strong Navy
Urged by Walsh
Attacks Effort to BRING
u. S. Into Conflict
By Propaganda
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Committee in the Senate today as
proper American policies to keep
this Nation out of war.
Declaring that a vast majority of
the American people wished to
maintain peace and to avoid en-
tangling commitments or alliances
abroad, Senator Walsh attacked
those whom, he insisted, are seeking
by propaganda to persuade the
United States to take sides in the
threatened European conflict.
Senator Walsh's speech started
general debate of the European war
situation. Senator Ashurst of
Arizona, Democrat, congratulated
the Massachusetts, Senator on his
pronouncement, declaring it the
height of craftsmanship.
IF we attempt to uphold any
foreign government" said Senator
Ashurst, I'VE will definitely regret
It,"
Senator Barbour of New Jersey,
Republican, declared that the
quicker I'VE as nation make known
our intentions, the better it will be
for the governments of Europe
which seem to have varying opinions
on that subject
Barbour Holds Peril to U. S. Small.
The New Jersey Senator said
there were two general opinions on
what the United States should do
in the event of European war. The
first. he said. held that this coun-
try should aid Great Britain and
France, If possible without becom-
ing involved in war. but that aid
should be given even if it meant
the United States would enter the
war.
The second, Senator Barbour said
holds the first objective to be fixed
and definite purpose that america
shall remain out of war regardless
OF what may happen in Europe. He
said that while sympathy here was
very largely for the European de-
mocracles. they should be clearly
told that this country would not
enter war abroad. Senator Bar
bour suggested that it might be
possible in some way to give France
and Great Britain help but only
with the definite understanding that
America would not take up arms.
1t is argued by some. Senator
Barbour continued, that if the
totalltarlan governments should de-
feat France and Great Britain they
would then attack the United States.
Senator Barbour insisted that the
victorious nations in a European
war would find themselves so weak
ened that an attack upon the United
States would be impossible. Par
tlcularly would this be true if the
United States makes full prepara-
ton for national defense and puts
Its economic house in order.
Senator Walsh proposed that law
oe enacted without delay which would
suspend all trade with belligerents
Immediately upon the outbreak of
hostllities, whether with formal
declaration of war or not. He de-
nounced the cash and carry" plan
now contained in the Neutrality
Act. but due to expire at the end
OF this month, under which warning
nations may buy supplies in this
country. provided they carried them
away in ships not under the Ameri-
can flag.
Could Effect Neutrality.
Such a law could in my judg-
ment, put into practical operation
the sort of neutrality strongly de-
sired and hoped for by an over
Whelmlng majority of the American
people" said Senator Walsh.
In addition to absolute, un-
equivocal unconditional and de-
termined neutrality Senator Walsh
urged "the speedy extension of our
system OF national defense so that
we will be ready and able to protect
this Nation against any eventuality.'
The Massachusetts Senator at the
outset OF his speech in the Senate
said: Nov if ever is the time for
. plain talk-talk for the benefit of
the war-mongers the world over, so
they may know where we stand,
what we will undertake to further
world peace. and more especially to
renounce those obligations sought
to be imposed upon us by selfish
powers abroad which we must un-
qualif1edly refuse to assume-talk to
reassure the American people that
we intend to preserve peace by all
honorable means in our power"
League and Court Ineffective.
Senator Walsh said it was un-
necessary to recite the "saber-rat-
Il
= less spirit which has prevailed
throughout the entire international
scene in the last few years." He
said neither the League of Nations
nor the World Court, set up for
peaceful settlement of international
disputes, has been effective-nor
even appealed to for aid in recent
years.
In those days, Senator Walsh con-
tined, I'VE were told that our battle
was to save the world for democ-
racy,' and we were sung hymns of
hate against the 'unspeakable Hun
= Today in similar fashion propa-
ganda is frantically and brazenly
spread in order to embroil us in
present European disputes-disputes
which are no concern of ours and
which apear certain to bring an
other devastating war. This time
not only is democracy threatened
with extinction, according to the
propagandists, but the whole eco
nomlc system is under attack and
facing imminent destruction"
Issue Declared False.
He said that on one side are
pictured the so-called totalitarian
states as Frankenstein monsters and
on the other the "so-called altruistic
democracies. In the press and
over the radio. he added, this coun-
try is fairly overwhelmed with ar
guments which 1t should take sides
with the latter.
The briefest sort of reflection"
said Senator Walsh, lis suff7cient