The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-07-20

Jafy Hull latest appear LOT dCGIoH OH
their neutrality proposal makes worth
while an analysis of the motives of
those Senators who are opposing them
on this issue and who are responsible
for the present unpleasant situation.
The vote in Congress showed II
against and II for the action de-
manded, which probably means that in
the Senate as a whole there is not far
from a majority, as things stand now,
who Will not take the Administration
view At least thirty-four Senators
have agreed among themselves to OPP
pose TO the limit the restoration of
those features of the Bloom bill elimi-
mated by the House, chief of which is
the provision permitting the sale of
arms and munitions to belligerent ma
tons.
So far as motives are concerned,
these Senators may be divided into
three groups. First, there are the con-
three groups. First, there are the con-
son, Nye and LaFollette, who are con-
WINGED isolationists, opposed to any
form of international cooperation.
Second, there are the Senators, mostly
from Middle Western States, who re-
f1ect-or, at least, think they do-the
feeling of their people. Third, there
are the Senators who dislike and dis
trust Mr.. Roosevelt, who feel that
with such a law as he wants he could
and would-promptly put US into
war; that this would fit into his polit-
ical strategy and might make him the
first third-term President.
AS 10 the first group-the convinced
isolationists-not can be done
with them. They are not susceptible
to reason on this subject, and it is a
waste Of time to try. AS to the second
class, there is a chance that something
could be done to make them realize
their mistake. 1t is true the sentiment
Of their constituents is overwhelming
" pacifst, but it is also true that if
the embargo, which they insist upon
continuing, is not raised before war
comes, public sentiment would prop
erIy compel its lifting once war came,
and that would involve US in the con-
fict far more certainly than if the
change were made during a period of
peace,
The support given this view and
given the President and Mr.. Hull on
the embargo issue by some Of themost
important Republicans in the country
ought 10 convince some of these West
ern Senator's that the course they ia
vor is not in the interests of peace
but rather the reverse. The latest of
these Republicans to take a position
on this point is Mr.. William R. Castle,
former Ambassador to Japan, Under
Secretary Of State in the Hoover Adj
minislation, and a very strong anti
New Dealer, indeed. Yet, in a recent
speech at the University of Virginia,
while strongly opposing giving the
President power to define combat
areas, Mr.. Castle unreservedly ranged
himself behind the President and Mr..
Hui on The main issue-to-wit, raising
the embargo against shipping to bel
ligerer.ts. He urged that this was sure
to be- f9rced by public sentiment once
war came and that it would vastly en-
hance aur staying out if it were done
before
Now, as to that third group of Sena-
torial opponents-those who suspect
that Mr., Roosevelt's foreign policy is
linked with his domestic political pur-
poses and believe him capable of US
ing the one to promote the other
something can be done to modify their
opposition, but it can be done only
by Mr.. Roosevelt himself-and it is
at least doubtful that he will try. This
writer believes it shockingly unjust
to infer that Mr.. Roosevelt is capable
of plunging this country into war in
order TO promote his political ambi-
tons, whatever they may be. That
would imply an unthinkable degree of
viciousness. No one not wholly blinded
by prejudice will believe that the
President would calculatingly do such
thing.
Nevertheless, the fact that the 1910
Presidential campaign is close at
hand; chat with his acquiescence and
approval, Mr.. Roosevelt's intimate
friends are feverishly promoting a
third-te term movement; that the re
cent appointment to the important
post of Federal Security Administra-
tor Of Mr.. Paul McNutt, the Indiana
politician who is running for Presi-