Evening star., 1939-07-14

Writer Sees Merit in Theories
Of Group Supporting q
Strict Embargo
To the Editor Of The Star:
After reading the articles on neutrality
in tonight's Star by Mr.. Baird and Mr..
Mann the ever-recurrent question comes
: to my mind, why do the newspapers pre-
sent only one point Of view in its most
favorable light? We all know that opin-
ions differ widely in this country con-
cerning international affairs, yet 1t Is
really amazing that only one point of
view is adequately presented by our
newspapers.
1t ought to be emphasized that there
Is an honest difference Of opinion among
people as to the neutrality policy of the
United States. One group sincerely be-
leves that peace can be maintained in
the world If the United States takes an
active part in discouraging aggression by
freely dispensing ammunition and sup
plies to those countries in Europe which
they believe to represent democracy and
which appear to be threatened with at
tack from the dictator countries. The
opposing group believes just as sincerely,
that the United States can best serve the
cause of world peace and her own welfare
by maintaining the neutrality in Euro
pean quarrels which was traditional up
to the time Of the World War; The ad-
vocates Of strict neutrality, taking heed
of the incidents of the last war, believe
that an embargo on the sale of arms and
implements OF war to any nation at war
is the best means of keeping the United
States free of European entanglements.
1t is not fair nor accurate to say that
advocates of neutrality as 1t now exists
in the act of 1887 owe their opinions to
totalitarian influences and to doctrine
implying fraud on the part of our former
leadership" Fascism has nothing what
ever to do with the state of mind exist
ing among Americans from the time they
threw of the shackles Of the British En-
plre. But 1t seems that If one refers to
George Washington and love of country
he is dubbed Fascist and a chauvinist,
and If he refers to the general welfare 1t
can only mean feeding the w. P. A. The
issue is very much broader one involv-
ing geography and history, of which one
never hears today. Mr.. Mann does refer
to the ''idiocies" published concerning the
events and policies leading up to the en-
trance of the United States into the war.
He seems to assert that the opinion of
many people in this country (not that of
comparatively small bloc" as Mr. Baird
implies) concerning the World War is
based upon things that are not true Mr..
Mann would have a great deal of diff
Guilty in refuting the statements which
have appeared in the last few years in
books on propaganda during the World
War. He could hardly disprove the dam
aging admissions contained in the men,
oirs of Mr.. Lansing and the intimate
papers Of Col. House, and 1t would be an
impossibility to contradict what appears
in the published documents on the for
eign relations Of the United States dur
ing the period 19l4-1918 Those docu-
ments reveal that this country was on
the point Of war with Great Britain over
her abuse Of our neutral rights, but that
the notes of protest which would have
provoked conflict never reached the
British, thanks to the efforts Of Col.
House, Mr.. Page and Mr.. Lansing The
Germans complained that the United
States was allowing the British privileges
which 1t would not allow to them; that
the United States defended its neutral
rights under the law as 1t then existed
against Germany, and yielded on the
same points to Great Britain. The COM
plants were certainly justified, and
when the United States failed to insist
upon her neutral rights against both
belligerents, giving Great Britain an un-
fair advantage. Germany took to sub
marine warfare. Submarine warfare un-
doubtedly was the immediate cause of
American participation in the war, but
Mr.. Mann omits to say what preceded 1t.
large section of American opinion
bases its desire for real neutrality upon
the undeniable facts relating to the last
war which have been brought before them
by official publications. competent his
oSANoAAo oAAa SoAA6A Coo1Olldl IlSS. IL
Is perfectly possible to come to a differ
ent conclusion upon the same set of facts.
1t is possible to study European history
and map Of the world showing Africa
divided between England and France and
the British possessions covering one
fourth of the globe. and still honestly
maintain that the United States should
aid Great Britain and France to main
tain their position in Europe and also
democracy and civilization in the world;
but the facts and the arguments against
such Intervention are such that they
merit thorough exposition and impair
tial consideration by every thoughtful
American. ELEANOR H. FINCH.
July 10.
War Veteran Urges
Return to Hoover.
To the Editor of The STAR
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