Evening star., 1939-07-16
leqislutinq for Peace

Le9isIutIng FOR Peuce
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Hull, by their statements of Friday
on peace and neutrality" legislation,
have placed squarely upon Congress
full responsibility for any peace
shattering developments that may
result-unintention and indirect
ly, of course-from failure to repeal
the existing Neutrality Act with its
dangerous embargo section and to
enact a more flexible law along lines
of the Hull peace program. Mr.. Hull's
warning that the arms embargo "en-
courages general state of war both
in Europe and Asia" is based on logic
and realities rather than on shallow
reasoning and illusory theories If
there has been doubt in the minds of
any members Of Congress as to the
effect that retention of the embargo
will have on critical conditions
abroad, they need but read the dis
patches from the totalitarian ag-
gressor nations. All of these press
reports have told of the qualification
with which the Nazi and Fascist
powers have learned of the fight in
Congress to keep the embargo pro-
vision on the statute books.
They were gratified because they
contemplated strange and almost
unbelievable eventuality if war
should come to Europe-a spectacle
OF American democracy shaking off
the bonds of neutrality to WELD an
embargo club, not against both sides,
but against friendly democracies in
their hour of greatest need. The club
would not threaten the aggressors,
for they have become virtually self
sufficient as to arms and implements
of war. What encourages the war
makers imperils the peace of Europe
and of the world. Once Europe is
embroiled in armed conflict, Japan's
war lords would be tempted to ex-
pand and intensity their campaign
to drive the Western nations from
the Orient. And a general state of
war in Europe and Asia inevitably
would endanger the peace and Sc
curity of the United States. Isola-
tionism's embargo plan thus not only
would smooth the path to war abroad,
but well might lead to the very sort
of American involvement which its
well-meaning but mistaken propo-
nents are seeking to avoid
Congress can i'll afford to ignore
the significance of the Presidents
insistence upon action right now, "in
the light of present world conditions"
The executive branch of the Govern
ment, being charged with the consti-
tutional duty of conducting the for
eign relations of the United States, is
in far better position than Congress
to know the urgency of the need for
prompt and realistic action on neu-
trality. It has been reliably reported
that diplomatic observers in Europe
have advised the State Department
of oninous rumors regarding plans
for further Nazi and Fascist marches
late this summer. With Europe
foundering in the whirlpools of in
ternational intrigue and unrest, it
would take few additional currents to
transform the whirlpool into major
maelstrom of war. America, not
alone for humanity's sake, but for
her own welfare, should refrain from
stirring the waters to greater frenzy
Rather-again for her own good-she
should do all in her power to throw
oil on the troubled waters, consistent
with her traditional policy of non
Intervention in other nations quar-
rels. Adoption of the Hull peace pro-
gram, calling for lifting of the arms
embargo in favor of a "cash and
carry arrangement open to all bel
ligerents and providing sensible re-
strictions on American ship move
ments, travel and financial dealings
when other nations are at war, should
help to quiet the whirlpools. And if,
despite our best efforts, a cataclysmic
maelstrom should develop, the pro-
gram most certainly would increase
Americas chances of steering clear
of the vortex