Evening star., 1940-06-03
Helping Ourselves

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After great deal of indecision, a
large majority of the American peo-
pie, in The Stars opinion, have def
nitely made up their minds that this
country can best serve its own inter-
ests by extending every possible as
slstance, short of manpower, to the
nations which are fighting desper-
ate battle to check the spread of
Hitlerism. If France and Britain are
conquered in the war now reaching
such critical stage, the menace of
totalitarianism will move appreciably
nearer to us. But If victory for the
Allies can be assured our own position
will be vastly improved.
IT these conclusions are correct.
and there can be no valid difference
OF opinion on that score, it follows
that our support of France and
Britain should be wholehearted, that
we should strive to utilize every
avenue OF giving assistance and not
seek excuses to refrain from giving it.
But our record in this respect is not
an enviable one.
Recently, the Allied Purchasing
Commission in this country has been
trying to buy a number Of Enfield
rifles and 75-millimeter guns which
have been held in storage by the
Army since the first World War. The
Allies are in desperate need of these
arms Immediately. But they have
been unable to get them-not because
they are needed by us but as the
direct result OF rather mysterious
amendment" to the Neutrality Act
which was adopted in the form of
an order by the War Department
last March.
At the office of Assistant Secretary
OF War Johnson it was said that this
order, which forbids the sale or
transfer by this Government of
surplus war material to any other
power which is at war, was adopted
in conformity with the wishes of the
White House. Secretary of War
Woodring has said that he knows
nothing whatsoever about the order,
and the White House also disclaims
any knowledge Of it. But the order
remains in effect and is an insur-
mountable barrier to the sale of any
Government-oWned war materials
to the Allies.
1t also has been contended, notably
in connection with Senator Peppers
proposal to sell to the French and
the British any surplus airplanes this
Government may have, that any sale
to a belligerent of military equip
ment owned by the United States
would be violation OF international
law.
In the strict sense this contention
Is correct, since the nations subscrib-
ing to The Hague Convention. the
United States being one of them,
agreed that neutral governments
should not sell war materials to bel
ngerent powers. But the binding
effect Of this agreement necessarily
depends upon the good faith of all
the signatories, and Germany, one
OF the signers, has violated the terms
OF the Convention in the most fla
grant fashion. In fact, the Third
Reich has profited directly and in
tentionally by violating international
law while her enemies sought to
respect it.
The invasion Of Holland and Bel
GUM, for example, was a violation
OF international law. BY ignoring
the neutral status of these countries
and their supposed immunity from
INVASION, Germany was able with
impunity to select the time and place
at which she wished to strike, know
ing full well that France and Britain
would not take the initiative from
her by launching an invasion of
their own in violation of the law
of nations
When nation undertakes a GRIM
1nal role in violation of solemn
agreements, as Germany has done,
other nations should be relieved of
their obligations to the offender. BY
adhering to technical and absurd
concept of our duty under interna-
tional law we are contributing d.
rectly to the ultimate success of
totalitarian aggressors. BY every
dictate Of common sense we should
desist from this course and under
take at once to give every assistance
to France and Britain, for if they
are defeated in this war we shall
not escape the evil consequences of