Evening star., 1939-09-06

the nature of formal representations
over the apparent violation of Ger
many's own signature to the protocol
governing submarine warfare.
But so far as drastic action is
concerned, the United States Gov
ernment has none in mind. The
high seas now are to be surrendered
to the belligerents and the historic
policy which America fought to
preserve from 1912 to 1918 can no
longer be said to be worth maintain
ing in the view of the American
Congress, which, presumably, repre-
sents American public opinion.
Major Naval Achievement.
The theory now is that when a
war is fought neutrality consists in
staying at home, keeping all war
products from being shipped and
virtually forfeiting the age-old right
to world commerce. Germany's sue
cess in driving Americas major
shipping off the high seas by threat
ened use of the submarines is an
important naval achievement and,
having been accepted by the United
States, rather than involve herself
in an assertion of neutral rights, the
chances are that worldwide prece-
dent will be set hereafter.
Not only, therefore, will American
commerce, in effect, abandon the
high seas by ceasing all direct con-
tact with the belligerent countries
England and France, our principal
customers-but the republics in
Central and South America will
likewise have to follow the policy of
power of the Washington Govern
ment is not to be used to safeguard
American shipments to the British
and French, then it will not be used
to supply any implied protection
that might be derived from the
Monroe Doctrine either.
To all intents and purposes, the
United States Government bows to
the threats of force applied by Ger
many in the last world war. The
torpedoing of merchant ship with
out warning-the Lusitania-caused
a profound impression in 1915 and
almost led to an outbreak of war.
But this time another merchant
ship, apparently unarmed and pro-
ceeding to neutral port and, there
fore, hardly carrying munitions, was
torpedoed without warning, but
there isn't ripple of excitement in
the National Capital about it, This
is part of the mind-our -own- -busi-
ness policy supposed to reflect the
wish of Congress.
Raises Peculiar Questions.
Some interesting questions will
arise to test the new policy. Will
the United States convoy its own
passenger ships to foreign neutral
ports? The answer thus far is no"
The name of the ship and an Amer
lean flag will be painted prominent
ly, and If the vessel is torpedoed,
well, there is no sign that anything
will be done about it.
Next comes the matter of defend
Ing our coastwise shipping. German
submarines are believed to be oper-
ating in and about the American
coast. Heretofore, three miles has
been the limit of territorial waters,
but in the days of the rum wars, the
Federal Government insisted on the
right to search II miles out. The
three mile idea grew out of the fact
that centuries ago a gun could fire
only three miles or thereaboutS. Now
an airplane can hover off the coast
and attack shipping and so can a
submarine, and there is no way to
tell whether territorial waters are
being violated unless naval patrol
OF some kind is established. Should
this be IL miles for ships that travel
on the surface and 100 miles for
alrplaneS, or Is an American air.
plane subject to attack when flying
between here and Cuba or between
here and the Azores, if it is suspect
ed Of carrying gold or some other
vital necessities for trans shipment
to the British and French?
Canada Can Play Neutral.
1t has been suspected that Canada
will word her declaration OF SYM
pathy with Great Britain in such a
way as to permit her official neu-
trahty to be proclaimed. If she
does, shipments of airplanes can go
to Canada in any amount. If they
are trans-shipped from Canada, it
will be something beyond this Gov
ernment's control, though such a
plain evasion is not likely to be
countenanced if a strict enforcement
policy is pursued. Should Congress
amend the existing neutrality law in
a few months, Canada could change
her status to one of active partici-
patton in the war, but her greatest
contribution at the moment would
be to follow the policy of Italy,
which has declared herself "neu-
trial." even though bound by the
closest ties to Germany.
Canada is equipped to become a
huge base of supplies for the British
and French and capito1 froy,, tho