Evening star., 1939-04-17

SVuuuVUV VI wv
Holds Neutrality Law
Revision Essential
Thomos Amendment to
Curb Aggressors Held
Needed to Assure Peace
Through the media of dramatic
Skit and round table discussion,
for which the ballroom of the Shore
ham Hotel became a radio broad
casting station for half hour, the
Conference of One Hundred yes
terday emphasized its plea for peace
through revision of Americas neu-
trality legislation.
Following presentation of the
play, "War-Made in America" in
which the United States aid to ag-
gressor nations through supplying
of war materials was condemned, a
radio forum of notables pointed out
the conferences contertion that
the proposed Thomas amendment to
the Neutrality Act was needed.
The conference later accepted
unanimously a committee report
urging imposition by the United
States of boycott and an embargo
of commerce with an aggresSor ma
ton. The report urged that Ameri-
can policy should be ito terminate
economic relations with nations that
go to war in violation of treaties
with the United States.
It also was urged that our policy
should be to supply needed goods
"to nations that are victims of such
attack"
Green Light for Aggressors.
Americas present neutrality leg
islation has been green light for
all the aggressor nations of the
world" Robert A. Dexter, chairman
of the Foreign Relations Committee
of the American Unitarian ASSocia-
ton, declared in answer to questions
by Quentin Reynolds, associate edi-
tor of Golfers Magazine, and Lii
liam Hellman, author of The Chill
dren's Hour and the current stage
hit, The Little Foxes"
The present legislation encourages
aggression and rebellion, he con-
tinued, by making it possible for
rebels to draw materials of war from
the United States. And it en-
dangers the peace of the United
States" he added, because war any
where means the possibility Of war
at home"
Thomas Neutrality Plan Backed.
DR.. Charles G. FenWick OF Bryn
Mawr College told the crowded ball
room and the radio audience. that
the amendment to the Neutrality
Act introduced by Senator Thomas
of Utah was the best and most
effective" method for avoiding war.
Through the amendment, he as
serted, economic pressure could be
brought on aggressor nations.
Public opinion has showed us"
Clark M. Eichelberger, director of
the League of Nations Association,
declared, that the people want a
foreign policy which distinguishes
between the aggressor and the de-
fender"
In answer to a question by Miss
Hellman concerning the possibility
of war, President Ernest Wilkins
of Oberlin College replied:
The question of war depends
upon what Hitler thinks the United
States will do. If he thinks the
United States will stay out-there
will be war. If, however. he believes
we will come in, the chances are
there will not be any such war"
c. %. Official and Actress In 1t.
Also participating in the forum
was James B. Carey, secretary OF
the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions, who emphasized that labor
was concerned with the maintenance
of peace and the conservation Of
peoples rights.
Tamara, Broadway star of Leave
It To Me-" took the part of Mrs.
U. S. A." in the play, produced by
the Theater Arts Committee, and
directed by Frank Curran. The
program was broadcast over radio
station VOL and the Mutual net
work. Orson Welles of the Mercury
Theater, Movie Star Franchot Tone
and Jimmy Durante, who were
scheduled to participate, did not
appear for yesterdays broadcast.
Assistant Secretary of State
George S. Messersmith and Senator
Pepper of Florida and Commissioner
of Education John w. Studebaker
were the speakers at the breakfast
session, at which Oscar Chapman,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior,
presided.
Mr.. Messersmith said, ''While the
policy of the State Department may
not be so clear to you as to details
of neutrality legislation, it is per-
fectly clear as to principle"
IF we are to help to conserve
peace and security in the world, we
must have a greater liberty in the
conduct of our foreign policy" he
asserted.
He described the Presidents mes
sage to Hitler and Mussolini as
merely enlightened self-interest,
which realized that there can be no
peace for us unless there is peace
for others-no security for us, un-
less there is security for others"
Senator Pepper contended that
the United States has more or less
succeeded to England's former place
as the preserver of the balance of
power, pointing out that the chan
mel no longer protects England.
I'VE cannot be the worlds great
est economic and political power and
avoid all moral responsibility for the
world he declared.
Mr.. Studebaker expressed the de-
sire that the information explained
at the conference be got quickly to
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