Evening star., 1939-09-21


sured in advance that any prospec-
tive sea-power antagonist would be
weakened through denial of its an
cient right to buy anything any
where. This, four years ago, gave
a definite advantage to one bellig-
erent as against another, not
through his own strength or geo.
graphic position, but through an
affirmative act Of ours. Removal of
the embargo is merely reverting to
the sounder international practice,
and pursuing in time of war as we'll
as in time Of peace our ordinary
trade policies.
This will be liked by some and dis
liked by others, depending on the
view they take of the present war,
but that is not the issue The step
recommend is to put this country
back on the solid footing of real and
traditional neutrality.
When and II repeal Of the en-
barge is accomplished, certain other
phases Of policy reinforcing Amer
lean safety should be considered
While nearly all Of us are in agree
ment on their objectives. the only
question relates to method.
Restriction Of U. s. Ships.
I believe that American merchant
vessels should. so far as possible, be
restricted from entering danger
zones. War zones may change SO
swiftly and so frequently in the
days to come that it Is impossible
to fix them permanently by act OF
Congress; specific legislation may
prevent adjustment to constant and
quick change. It seems, therefore
more practical to delimit them
through action of the State De.
partment and administrative agen-
cies. The objective of restricting
American ships from entering such
zones may be attained by prohibit.
ing such entry by the Congress; O,
the result can be substantially
achieved by executive proclamation
that all such voyages are solely a,
the risk of the American owners
themselves.
The second objective is to prevent
American citizens from travelling or
belligerent vessels, or in danger
areas. This can also be accomplished
either by legislation, through con.
tinuance in force Of certain provt-
sions Of existing law, or by proclama.
tion making 1t clear to all Americans
that any such travel is at their owr
risk.
The third objective. requiring tn.
foreign buyer to take transfer of It'll.
in this country to commodities pur.
chased by belligerents, is also a re.
suit which can be attained by legis.
lation or substantially achieved
through due notice by proclamation
War Credits to Belligerents.
The fourth objective is the pre-.
venting of war credits to belliger.
ents. This can be accomplished by
maintaining In force existing pro-
visions Of law, or by proclamation
making it clear that II credits ar,
granted by American citizens Il
belligerents our Government viii
take no steps in the future to re-
lieve them of risk or loss. The re.
suit OF these last two will be to re-
quire all purchases to be made i,
cash and cargoes to be carried IL
the purchasers own ships, at tn,
purchasers own risk.
Two other objectives have beer
amply attained by existing law
namely, regulating collection O
funds in this country for belliger
ents and the maintenance of a Ii
cense system covering import ane
export OF arms. ammunition and i'm.
plements Of war. Under presen
enactments, such arms cannot b,
carried to belligerent countries or
American vessels, and this provision
should not be disturbed.
The Congress, of course. sho,,lt
make its own choice of the metho<
by which these safeguards are to b,
attained, so long as the methot
chosen will meet the needs of new
and changing day-to-day situation
and dangers.
| rAE ureater safeguards.
To those who say that this pro
gram would involve a step towar,
war on our part, I reply that i
oders far greater safeguards tina,
we now possess or have ever DOS
sessed to protect American live,
and property from danger. It is
positive program for giving safety
This means less likelihood Of Incl.
dents and controversies which tent
to draw us into conflict, as they dis
In the last World War. There lie,
the road to peace!
The position OF the executiv,
branch OF the Government is tina
the age-old and time-honored doc.
trlne OF international law. coupled
with these positive safeguards, il
better calculated than any othel
means to keep US out of this war
In respect to our own defense
you are aware that I have issuec
q proclamation setting forth "A Ma.
tional Emergency in Connection
with the Observance, Safeguarding
apd Enforcement Of Neutrality anc
the Strengthening Of the Nationa
Defense within the Limits of Peace.
time Authorizations" This wa,
done solely to make wholly consti.
tutional and legal certain obviously
necessary measures. I have author.
lied increases in the personnel O,
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps anc
Coast Guard, which will bring al
four to q total still below peace.
time strength as authorized by thu
Congress.
| No Need for Further Action.
have authorized the State De.
partment to use, for the repatriation
OF Americans caught In the wal
zone. $50o,000 already authorized b,
the Congress. +.
have authorized the addition O,