Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-13

placed abroad on Americas policy
The fact that thePresident let II
be known that he was in accord
with newspaper editorial in which
the probabilities of America being
drawn into a world war were dis
cussed is in itself part of a program
of diplomacy.
Briefly, the American Govern
ment's position. as doubtless made
known informally through he
Ambassadors abroad, is that, If a
European war breaks out, the
United States would find herself
involved. The extent of her in
volvement is another question.
Nobody here, for instance, in any
position of authority has indicated
that the United States would ever
send another Army overseas. but, on
the other hand, the furnishing of a
continuous supply of airplanes and
war materials would be of such
material help to the democracies
that the dictatorship powers might
consider this an act of direct alli-
ance against them.
The superstition has often been
expressed that the democracies
abroad would not be able to pay
for their war supplies unless they
borrowed money in the United
States, and this is forbidden by the
johnson law with respect to coun-
tries which defaulted on their war
debts. But Canada, which is an
integral part of the British empire,
Is not in default on war debts and
has good credit in the United States
Would American public opinion
sanction a refusal to sell a sister
nation across the Northern boun-
GARY whatever materials were
needed. and also efforts to prevent
American investors from lending
whatever sums were needed by the
Canadian government?
Principal Source of Supply.
This presents an aspect of the
problem of war lending which is
not often referred to in discussions
OF the subject, but it is taken for
granted here that, if war breaks
out IN Europe. the United States will
be the principal source of supply
and that it will be impossible to
refuse Canada the help she may
ask on behalf of the British de-
mocracy.
The moment war supplies in large
quantities are shipped, the United
States becomes involved. But, en-
tirely apart from the shipment of
war materials, the world trade sit
uation would become so disturbed
rs to involve America in protective
measures as well as in all sorts of
indirect complications. Thus, Mex
leo nowadays is shipping 1000, 1000
barrels of oil a month to Japan
and Germany combined-oil which
was deliberately taken from Amer
lean oil companies. Would the
British fleet long permit such ship
ments to continue if war broke out,
ana what counter measures would
be taken by the Central Powers of
Europe to maintain relations with
Mexico so as to acquire oil supplies?
These are basic questions that
show what is meant when a simple
prediction is made to the effect
that. If war breaks out in Europe,
"we"-as the President used the
collective pronoun-would in one
way or another be involved.
More Vital Than Army.
The Presidents purpose, of course,
Is to let the dictatorship states
know that the United States will
be drawn into the war materials
situation very definitely if war
breaks out and this is more vital
from the standpoint of Britain and
France than the sending of an
American army overseas.
The war is not going to need
the vast manpower for land armies
that the last war did. The great
est need Is going to be for airplanes
and raw materials and food sup
plies. 1t would not be at all sur
prising, for instance, if, when war
breaks out, the British and French
asked American aid, but stipulated
that 1t was not desired to have
any American army overseas. The
allied democracies could afford to
make that concession to American
opinion and yet get all the sinews
OF war really needed-a continuous
supply Of airplanes and munitions.
May Discourage Spirit.
It will be noted that recently a
4 Canadian government spokesman
indicated that. in the next war.