Evening star., 1939-06-30

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debt rather than public debt. The
subject of lending is surrounded
with a good deal of political bicker-
ing and the administrations pro-
posals are under attack, but no con-
structive alternative program that
will assure a balanced budget in the
coming fiscal year has emanated
from any source.
Congress is not concerning itself
so much with the fiscal situation as
with more appropriation for special
groups and for relief. The drive of
the silverites to get bigger subsidy
from the public Treasury has now
been assisted by the conservative Re-
publicans, so that all one can say is
that politicians are still politicians.
The hope of balanced budget is
remote.
Neutrality Given Attention.
When Congress is not bestirrlng
itself about measures like the in
crease in silver's price or in taking
away the power from the Executive
to deal with emergency situations
that may arise with respect to the
dollars gold content, the attention
Of the members is focused on
changes in the neutrality laws.
The movement, Just begun in the
House. to repeal all neutrality legis-
lation and let American Govern
ment policy rest on international
law has been getting substantial sup
port from Republicans as we'll as
Democrats It was not the admin
istrations request. but it probably
will be welcomed by the State De-
partment. As between any rigid
definition of what America Should
or should not do in war time and
blanket power to act on the basis
of international law precedents. the
Department of State would doubt
less feel much better fortified to
protect American interests if inter-
national law is to be the sole basis
Of diplomatic action.
1t is true that international law
has undergone in the last two de-
cades many notifications in both
letter and spirit. but the world cam
not get back to a sane basis of inter-
national intercourse until codes of
law are brought back into their one
time position of prestige. When the
World War broke out there were in
stances of disregard of international
law by both sides but the position
of the respective belligerent causes
was positively or negatively affected
in neutral countries in accordance as
law was observed or disregarded
Stands as Warning.
The fact that a standard of inter
national morality with regard to the
treatment of lives and property
exists is a warning signal to those
countries which. needing neutral
support, choose to ignore interna-
tional procedents. America as
likely neutral in the next war can
help the cause of international
Justice by insisting that nations go
back to international law codes of
the past.
There is no reason why rules of
forbearance cannot be adopted by
the Congress if war does break
out. rules which forbid American
ships to run blockades or carry con-
traband into danger zones. To make
any legislative rules now when there
is no certainty what the situation
may be Is to handicap American
policy.
Reintroduces Morality.
To revert to international law IS
to introduce q principle of morality
which cannot be attacked by any
political demagogues because inter
national law is based upon equity
and morality as between nations.
Almost any kind of neutrality law
with specific provisions in it would
provide embarrassments, both of a
political nature to members of Con-
gress and to the pursuit of neutral
policy by the American Government.
especially in these days of unde-
clared war
International law gives the Amer
lean Government free hand to de-
termine whether blockade imposed
without a declaration of war is law
full and shall be obeved The Far
Eastern situation can better be han
died by using international law
precedents than by specific set of
restraints. So it is with the prob
lens arising in the Atlantic, where
American cargoes to Scandinavian
countries and South American ma
tions could be interfered with unless
protected by America s international
law stand, something that will some
day in world courts and claims tri-
bunals be a safer point of defense
than congressional statutes which
are one-sided and cannot cover
possible contingencies relating to
the action of foreign governments.