Evening star., 1939-12-24

OClt Wd6 OllNCll ONCI WIFI I'LL G1lC AElS
suasive powers Mr.. Welles had at his
command, it was understood that the
policing of that belt would be under
taken to large extent by the United
States Navy.
A neutrality patrol was Immediately
formed for the Atlantic. 1t is COM
posed Of three somewhat dated but still
powerful battleships-the New York, the
Texas and the Arkansas; number Of
cruisers-their number varies because
the new types are kept in the Atlantic
for their trial cruises before they are
sent to the main fleet in the Pacific;
something like so destroyers, an airplane
carrier and about 10 submarines. A
salt water sailor, Admiral Hayne Ellis,
was placed in command of that tenn
porary squadron. This formation has
makeshift character because the new
ships intended to remain permanently
in the Atlantic have not yet been COM
pleted.
Exchanges of Views.
But heterogeneous as this detachment
may appear, it can do the police duty
required of it without trouble To the
American units would be added three
Argentine cruisers, two battleships and
two cruisers-the four are antiquated
units-belonging to Brazil and a number
Of modern patrol vessels of Uruguay.
There have been exchanges of views
between the capitals of the interested
South American republics and Washing
ton. The diplomats of the former want
action; our Department of State still
wishes representations, warnings and
the entire gamut of diplomatic notes
which lead to protracted negotiations
and no positive results.
President Roosevelt at one time did
not mince his words when he declared
that the safety belt must be kept free
of belligerent ships. The American oe.
stroyers were chasing up and down that
zone for real or illusory submarines The
time may come in the near future when
there will be no imaginary submarines
looking for prey. There will be real
battle cruisers and other men-of-war
making these waters the scenes of naval
action which will make history.
The South Americans believe that un-
less stern measures are taken to prevent
the recurrence of the events of the last
10 days, their position will be jeopardized.
They are pointing out to the State De-
partment that public opinion, which is
none too strong in favor of an active CO.
operation with the COLOSSUS of the
North" will definitely turn against the
United States. People of the Latin.
American republics would say that
America is strong at making high-sound.
ing declarations, but when it comes to
actually enforcing them it is Just as
Weak-kneed as the other democratic
countries. The prestige of the dictators,
even though the German ship might
have got the worst of it in a combat
with superior enemy, would then in.
crease and the whole Pan-Amerlcan pol
Icy OF the administration would collapse
like castle of sand
| What the South Americans want Is
action. An action, they say, which would
not involve the western hemisphere
IN war with the nations of Europe,
but would make them respect the deci-
slons OF the nations of the Americas
without murmur in the future.
The advocates of a mailed fist policy
say that neither the Germans nor the
allies will dare refuse a peremptory
order from strong patrol to refrain
! from fighting in the 300-mile zone. The
United States could order the Atlantic
fleet on goodwill trip to South Amer
lea. and while based at various ports
IN the South Atlantic the airplanes and
destroyers could do good scouting lob.
| In Roosevelt's Hands.
OF course, it would not be easy on a
3,OOO-mlle coast to prevent the capture or
the sinking of some merchantmen by the
belllgerent units. But it would not be
| possible to witness a repetition of the
scenes of last week when four ships
fought for hours in the territorial waters
OF the South American republics
| The knife to cut the diplomatic Cor
| dian knot is in President Roosevelts
hands. He is the father of the safety
belt idea; Under Secretary Welles is only
its godfather.
The State Department is divided. One
group believes that the United States
| must be extremely cautious in this mat.
ter. The British made their reservation
as to the legality of the new zone as
soon as they were officially informed G.
Its existence. Furthermore, the advocates
OF the go slow" school maintain that
any drastic action might conceivably in
volve the United States in a conflict
which public opinion is not prepared to
| accept And as third reason they saw
that there is not sufficient proof that
all the South American republics would
be found behind the United States should
showdown be the result of too hastv
action on the part of the American naval
forces
| The other group in the State Depart
ment believes that the United States Is
prepared to stand behind its given word.
Unless this country is ready to 60 to all
lengths to enforce the neutral zone az
established at Panama, step which cam
not be harmful to the belligerent nations
since the ocean is wide enough to fight
outside these territorial waters, the pro-
ponents of action believe the entire policy
of building up close tie between tho
two Americas is certa& to come to
| nothing.
1t is heavy task on the part of the