Evening star., 1939-09-28


coast of North and South America.
Under one Interpretation of strict
neutrality" American naval vessels
that happen to be in the vicinity of
those French or British freighters
which are attacked by German sub
marines should not go to the rescue,
for to do so is in theory not bit diff
ferent than would be an American
ambulance service established be-
hind the lines of either of the bel
Hgerent armies.
There is no legal reason why Amer
leans should not assist in handling
the wounded behind the front lines,
but nowadays the cry for strict neu-
trality is such that any American
unit sent to assist would doubtless
be subject to criticism If it in any
way were sponsored by the American
Government. This would seem to
exclude any aid, therefore, from
American naval vessels on the high
seas, though the other day United
States destroyer, answering dis
tress call, stood alongside a British
cargo ship and the German subma-
rine did not attack.
UBoat Task Made Easier.
But how about American mer-
chantmen which soon will be for
hidden to travel to belligerent ports?
Will they, by the same theory. be
precluded from having any contact
with vessels flying belligerent flags,
whether or not for humanitarian
reasons? In sense, when an
American merchantmen answers an
S. o. S. call of British or French
vessel already attacked by a Ger
man submarine, the task of the Ger
man submarine commander in COM
plying with the new rules govern
Ing submarine warfare, namely that
crews must be placed in position
Of safety, is made easier through
such American assistance. Nobody
Will question the humanitarian OBJ
Jectlve OF America in rendering this
assistance, but nowadays, with the
peculiarly rigid view being taken
OF neutrality, the part played by
American vessels at sea, especially
II they respond to an S. o. S. call be-
fore pursuing submarine actually
flres Its torpedo, may produce COM
plicated questions for the diplomats
10 argue over.
Perhaps a much more controver-
sal issue will arise over the evi-
dent intent of the United States
and the other republics of this hem
isphere to establish a neutral zone
along the coast of both continents
Hitherto three-mile limit has been
accepted as territorial waters" and
IN some instances by treaty, the
United States has succeeded in get
ting IL miles as the approved outer
limit for purposes of pursuing and
searching foreign vessels engaged
In smuggling.
TO insist on wide zone of per-
haps 100 miles as American ter.
rltor1al waters in time of war is
from the viewpoint of neutral rights
quite consistent with past history
But, on the other hand, belligerents
are constantly refusing to accept a
neutral nations concept of neutral
rights, the perennial differences OF
opinion as to where the domain OF
one encroaches on the other being
recorded in such massive works as
John Bassett Moore's digests of in
ternational law rulings of the last
century and half.
Safety for Inshore Shipping.
Will Britain and France or Ger
many agree to respect a zone ex.
tending 100 miles out to seao II
they DO, United States shipping and
the vessels of Latin American coun-
tries will be safe to cruise between
our ports and those of Central and
south America without being halted
oy submarines or naval craft TO,
search and seizure.
To require British patrolling war;
ehlps to stay far out to sea might
however, permit, in some cases
German submarines to slip unob.
served into the deserted waters O,