Evening star., 1940-10-27

rated new policy in the sphere
of economic relations. In the
summer of 1884, this country
adopted the reciprocal trade
agreements program, designed to
restore and expand international
commerce through the reduction
of unreasonable trade barriers
and the general re-establishment
of the rule Of equality of COM
mercial treatment. This pro-
gram proved to be the greatest
constructive effort in a world
racing toward economic destruc-
ton.
Efforts to Reduce Arms
Failed at Geneva Farley.
In the meantime, other phases
of international relations were
undergoing further and rapid de-
terioration. Efforts to achieve
international security through
the reduction and limitation of
armaments were unsuccessful.
The long and weary conferences
at Geneva during which plan
after plan failed of adoption
showed that the world was not
ready to grasp an opportunity
for action which, had it been TAX
en-. might have prevented subse-
quent disasters. This and the
notice given by Japan in Decem-
ber, 1884. of her intention to
terminate the Washington treaty
for the limitation of naval arma-
ments opened the way for new
armament race.
At this juncture. Italy an
nounced her intention to secure
control over Ethiopia-by force
of arms. if necessary. While there
was still a possibility for an
amicable settlement of the diff
culties between Italy and Ethio-
pia, the attitude of the Govern
ment of the United States was
made clear on September IS,
1885. in a statement which read
In part as follows:
Under the conditions which
prevail in the world today, q
threat of hostilities anywhere
cannot but be a threat to the
nterests-political, econmic, legal
and social-of all nations. Armed
conflict in any part of the world
cannot but have undesirable and
adverse effects in every part of
the world. All nations have the
right to ask that any and all
issues between whatsoever ma
tions be resolved by pacific
means. Every nation has the right
to ask that no nations subject it
and other nations to the hazards
and uncertainties that must in
evitably accrue to all from resort
to arms by any two"
Neutrality Act Passed
Keep U. S. Out Of War.
During the summer of 1885
under the influence of these
rapidly unfolding developments
threatening the peace of the
world the Congress enacted a
statute, known as the Neutrality
Act of 1885. The purpose of this
act was to reduce the risks of our
becoming involved in war. Un-
fortunately, it contained as its
principal feature the provision
for rigid embargo on export Of
arms to belligerents. This provi-
sion was adopted under the in
fluence of a fallacious concept
temporarily accepted by large
number of our people that this
country's entrance into the
World War had been brought
about by the sale of arms to bel
Ggerents and the Vaccinations of
so-called international bankers"
1t was clear then, and has be-
come even clearer since, that a
rigid embargo on export of arms
might have an effect the op-
posite of that which was intended.
On the occasion of the signing
of the act, the President pointed
out that history is filled with un-
foreseeable situations" and that
conditions might arise in which
the wholly inflexible provision for
an arms embargo might drag us
into war instead of keeping us
out" I myself repeatedly pointed
out that in addition to the un-
foreseeable consequences of the
provision itself reliance upon that
concept might mean the closing
of our eyes to manifold dangers
in other directions and from
other sources.
BY 1888 there was no longer
any doubt that the existence of
the arms embargo provision was
definitely having the effect of
making widespread war more
likely. Accordingly early in 1899
the executive branch of the Gov
ernment urgently recommended
to Congress the repeal of that
provision. That was finally ac-
complished after the outbreak
OF war in Europe, at a special
session of Congress, called by the
President for that specific pur-
pose.
Germany Tears Up.
Treaty of Locarno.
The Italo-Ethiopian war and
its attendant circumstances left,
in an already shaken Europe, a
new condition of intense bitter
ness and unsettlement. Into that
situation, Germany, after three
years of intensive military prep
aration, flung, early in 1886, her
first serious challenge to world
order under law. The German
government tore up the treaty of
Locarno, into which Germany
had freely and voluntarily en-
tered. and proceeded to fortify
the Rhineland in violation of the
express provisions of that treaty.
In the summer of that year, a
violent conflict flared up in
Spain. and that unfortunate
country became a battle-ground
OF newly emerging power poll
tics.
During this period, the Presi-