Evening star., 1940-12-15

AS your UAdJCoty AAloWo. AZ 40 eAAS
settled policy of the United States Gov
srnment to extend aid to those govern
ments and peoples who defend them
selves against aggression. assure your
majesty that steps are being taken to
extend such aid to Greece, which is de-
tending itself so valiantly."
In these words, replying a few days
ago to an appeal for moral and mate
rial assistance" made by King George
II of Greece, President Roosevelt tacitly
called attention to the magnitude OF
current development in our foreign
policy For it is possible to demonstrate
that the policy as above stated Is un-
likely to remain indefinitely in that in
complete form.
No matter how powerful, a single ma
ton will find it very difhcult to maintain
the position there outlined. 1t can, as
Settled policy" effectively oppose ag-
eression only by joining with other gov
ernments of like purpose. Furthermore,
# this association is to be more than
an alliance to preserve the status quo, the
international agreement must envisage
some procedure for removing factors
which encourage aggression, as well as
procedures for resisting aggressive action
when undertaken.
Development Of Policy.
The development of policy which Is
under way will be more clear If We recall
the wording of Article X of the covenant
Of the League of Nations. That famous
article, the chief bone of contention in
the Senate fight over ratification OF the
treaty of Versailles reads as follows:
the members of the League under
take to respect and preserve as against
external aggression the territorial in
tegrity and existing political independence
of all members of the League. In case
of such aggression. or in case OF any
threat or danger of such aggression. the
Council shall advise upon the means by
which this obligation shall be fulfilled"
Just 81 years ago that pledge to resist
aggression was the principal reason for
this country's refusal to join the League
of Nations. 1t then became 1.-The settled
policy of the United States Government
not to extend aid to victims of aggres-
sion. So the reversal of position heralded
on December S, by President Roosevelt's
message to the King of Greece, must be
regarded as momentous.
The old isolationist attitude which
helped to precipitate the present war by
depriving the League OF Nations OF
American support and leadership, is not
yet legally reversed. As recently as No
vemoer Is, acting under the Neutrality
Law, President Roosevelt proclaimed
"the neutrality of the, United States of
America in the war now existing between
Italy, on the one hand, and Greece. on
the other"
Neutrality Proclaimed.
In this same executive order, issued
q month ago. Mr.. Roosevelt stated over
his signature that lit is the duty of the
United States" in the var now proceed
Ing between Italy and Greece, mot to
permit the commission of unneutral acts
within the jurisdiction of the United
States"
OF course it is impossible to reconcile
this proclamation of neutrality with the
assurance of aid to Greece against Italy
as given by the President to the monarch
of the invaded country three weeks later
1t IS an unhappy and undignified situa-
ton when a great nation has on its
statute books law demanding that no
distinction should be drawn between
aggressors and their victims and yet is
glad to proclaim through its Chief Ex-
ecutive that its settled policy" is pre-
clsely the opposite.
No problem before the United States
h more important than to get this tangle
Strengthened out. Unless we plan to
drift into war on the assumption that
fighting is an end in itself, we must es-
tablish a clear-cut foreign policy which
shall be consistently settled" not merely
In the mind of the Chief Executive but
also in the law of the land.
The problem would be serious If it were
merely matter of the inconsistency be-
tween our law and our actions. But
there is more to it than that One may
doubt the complete accuracy of the
assertion that the settled policy" OF the
sdministra ton is ito extend aid to those