Evening star., 1940-11-18
Economic
Defense
Urged
Freezing All Assets
OF Non-Americon
Nations Studied
BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER.

4
/ Since this country is in fear Of
being attacked, why should it con-
tlnue to build up economically its
potential enemies? Since it is Civ
/ ing its Warshlps and every second
military alrplane out OF the factories
to Great Britain, 1t clearly thinks
a British victory to be in the AmerI-
can interest. Ought it not, therefore,
carry sef-dcfense into financial and
. economic fields?
And isn't the proper way TO do
this to cease worrying about out
mOdCd legal concepts We already
| violated by the transfer Of the de-
StrOyers, 10 cease fOOling around
with COMPLICATED embargo measures
and simply 10 freeze the assets IN
America Of all countries outside the
Western Hemisphere?
A growing group Of people within
TINS administration think il this
way, and # the President accents
their view the said assets are EkpIv
to BE- frozen tighter than the Green
lana ice cap by executive order in
the near future.
The effect of such move would
be terrific II would seriously han
cIcap our potential enemies. the a.
gHessors, without hurting our friends.
For, by a license system. frozen
funds could be m .lted out for the
benefit Of any countries. or Dur-
poses, the administration approved.
Britain and China would Get the
licenses. Germany and Italy and
Japan would not. And th5.e need be
no argument.
Stern Financial Control.
Il TINS scheme. plans for which
already exist. Is realized S0.,r-
Russia viii be unable. REGARDLESS Of
recent promises COuceiyably made 10
Hitler by Molotof in Berlin. TO ao-
as Germany purchasing agent and
OBTAIN from Us products and mer-
chanolSe which it Will then transfer
10 Germany.
ItaAans Will no longer be able 10
transfer remIttauces trrourn the
blockade 10 the home country. and
provide MussOlui with good Amer
lean dollars GERMANY and T-a-~
VIII no longer be able to get hold
o. supposedly protected" assets Of
conquered countries. and realize on
mem by fraud through countries
Ike Switzerland and YugosIavia.
NO longer Will Vlchv French gold
be able TO 60 from Martinique 10
france, and thence, IN all LkoL-
hood. 10 Germany No. all the
A.laHc-e- and commercial trarsac-
lions Of all Varrng countries their
victims and their confederates. with
ana through THIS cOunrrv. VIII be
SUD 'ec' 70 stern financial control
Inc Treasury Department. often
-a2e-ec the most efficient in the
country, VII keep an eye on them.
No Need for Embargoes.
The japanese could. theoretical
~ continue sending silk here. br.-
as payment would be immediaterv
frozen, they would not long per
s.sl. GoodS 10 Japan would IangJlsA
s---H mOnev could not be received
for them No need for embargoes
no need for discrimination. A.
-e3st. not legal discrimination.
mere would be discrimination.
all TgA,, made along the most an
cien' Of all lines Of distinction. that
between friend ana an enemy
BItaln and China and. co1ceiv-
a3-F. Switzerland YuEOSlavIa ard
turkey and countries on the sire
We are helping would a,ways re
CeiEe licenses for IaC.-n7a-a rr.r,e
ac- or
But enemy countries would rot
AGGRESSION would be pera1l7er
directly, the desires Of so or On me-
cent Of the people OF this co-r,7-y.,.
'ae promises Of both presidential
ca-o.G2'os for more hol1 IN Rrra.1
"a1-a be translated into effective
.-1a- All by a single stroke of
the pen "
Decision With President
30 runs the lIne Of thought of
lnoae favorable. There is. natJraI'v
opposition Il is argued by some
that such harsh action would ini,,ra
heutra.' countries like Spain and
Portugal. Il is argued that 1t would
H0 "LlptLeI D4oW 10 American i'm
porterS and exporters. 10 American
Shippers, to international bankers
It is argued that the belIjreren+
countries already have on hand
large stocks Of everything needed
10 carry on the war for a long time.
To which the answer runs. Amer
cans should be as willing 10 defend
lleT country and its causes BY uye-
ful loss Of trade as they are 10 nav
taxes for the purchase Of war ma
teralS- The So-Called neutral conn
tres are either all committed to one
side or another already. or could
receive gernous treatment in the
matter Of licenses
As Tor the stocks already in as
greSsors hands. why permit them
to become any larger? If the pro
posed freeze Will be necessary one
DAY, then why not now?
The decision rests with the Presi-
dent.
'Conyr.sht, lafo. CHICAGO Daily News Incl