Evening star., 1939-09-12

There is every evidence that the
discussion will be intensified in the
special session of Congress about
to be called. Each side will attempt
to place upon the other the respon-
sibility for endeavoring to drag
America into the war The issues
can be thus simplified:
l. If the neutrality law is repealed
and all belligerents are treated alike
so that they can come and get their
war materials provided they pay
cash will this bring America into
the war? The opponents say it will
because it is necessary to avoid at
tack by Germany on any American
cargoes, no matter by whom carried.
Those who favor repeal of the war
supplies embargo say that by pass
ing the Hu.l plan, America. asserts
her right to sell, but each country
must come and get the materials
and there is no chance to involve
America in war.
2. If the neutrality law is not re-
pealed and Great Britain and
France are defeated in the present
war, will the United States be COM
PEELED to fight, either in the current
conflict, or subsequently, against a
German empire which has sWal-
lowed the British Navy-hitherto a
substantial factor in American de-
fense against potential invasions
from Europe? The advocates OF re-
peal say, in effect, America either
must build armament of back
breaking expense now for self
defense and ultimately get into the
war against Hitlerism anyhow, or
else save herself an expensive war by
helping the allies win with supplies
bought from America for cash and
conveyed to them in their own ships.
Difficult to Follow.
The argument is a bit difficult to
follow at times, on both sides, be-
cause at the moment everything ex-
cept airplanes can be shipped to the
belligerents in American vessels, and
if it is assumed that the mere trans
portation of cargoes may get us into
war. then America at the moment
faces such a peril in refusing to
amend the neutrality laws so as to
keep the cargoes of contraband OF
American vessels.
The question has become, unfor-
tunately, one of whether the allies
or the Germans should be helped by
American neutrality This situa-
ton was produced by the action OF
the American Congress in departing
from the established principles OF
international law, which, hereto
fore, have sanctioned neutral trade
with any belligerent, but subject to
search and seizure of contraband
cargoes at the shippers risk OF run
ming formal blockage.
There is no denying the fact that,
tust as the statute imposing the war
supplies embargo in the first place
was an encouragement to Germany
and an aid to her in wartime, so also
the removal of the embargo now be-
comes a distinct encouragement and
aid to the British and French in
wartime.
Some members of Congress say it
Is a matter of indifference to them
what happens in Europe. Many
members of the British and French
Parliaments in the last six years were
Indifferent to what Germany was
doing, but today Great Britain and
France are at war because Hitler be-
lieved they would never fight for
principle-the independence OF small
states.
Stand Misinterpreted.
In 1916, moreover, the policy OF
the Democratic party-boasting OF
a keep out -of-war achievement-WaS
interpreted in Berlin as an indica-
ton that America was pacifistically
inclined and would not 60 to war.
Shortly after the national election
in which peace was the issue, the
German high naval command issued
Its orders to destroy all shipping in
and around the European coasts,
irrespective of the nationality OF the
ships or the cargoes carried. TO this
day, the records show that the elec-
ton of President Wilson in 1915 was
misconstrued in Berlin and had
decisive effect on German policy.
If the Congress of the United
States should decide to continue to
refuse to supply airplanes to Great
Britain and France, it will be notl-
fication to Germany, on the one
hand, that America does not care
about the outcome, and it will pro-
duce, on the other, throughout the
English-speaking world, including
Canada, an era of ill-will which has
never existed between America and
the British dominionS.
Under such circumstances, the re-
turn to international law, with It's
established customs, is the course
advocated by many international
law experts irrespective OF party.
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