Evening star., 1941-04-02

and in the war
tactics of Herr
Hitler as well as
in the domain David Lawrence.
of national policy.
So far as international law IS
concerned. it is the right of citizens
of neutral country to run a block
ade. and it is the right of neutral
government to insist on compensa-
tory damages if an attempt is made
by a belligerent to interfere with
the neutrals commerce by merely
proclaiming and not maintaining
a blockade.
To maintain" a blockade requires
more than mere words or threats or
proclamations. A belligerent must
make his blockade effective to Sc
cure recognition and respect by
neutrals. The blockade of the Brit
ish Isles by the German submarine
war is not considered effective"
within the meaning of international
law because commerce of the British
is regularly entering and leaving the
blockade areas in largest quantities.
Basis for Protest.
When a neutral government un-
dertakes, however, to fit out block
ade runners the belligerent has
basis for protest. During the Amer
ican Civil War the British govern
ment helped to fit out a blockade
runner which carried goods to and
from the Southern States against
the protest of the Government al
washington. Damages were subse-
ouently collected by the United
States in an arbitration proceeding.
There is no doubt that citizens
of neutral nations in past wars nave
undertaken at their own rlsK 10 run
q blockade and that neutral gov
ernments have not felt it was IN
cumbent upon them to do much OF
ANYTHING about it except to protest
against the exten of the blockade
or its interference with so-calleo
non-contraband articles OF COM
merce.
The development of what for want
of a better term might be called
protective neutrality has resulted IN
the viping out of any distinction
between the rights of citizens OF a
neutral state and the government
thereof. 1t is being assumed now
adavs bv Government officials that
if citizens have a right to run
blockade at their own risk so mas a
pe1tral government the same prlVl-
leee. In other times 1t would pc
called an unneutral act and coulo
justifiably be regarded by pei
ligerent as an act of war.
What makes difficult the ternn-
nology nowadays is that Herr Hitler
doesn't want to declare war on
America or take any step winch
might provoke America to declare
war. The United States Govern
ment knows this and is plainly oent
on exerting its protective neutrality
to the utmost even to the risk OF
antagonizing the head of the Nazl
regime.
No Declaration of War.
It's a 1Oo-to-1 bet here in WASH
ington among informed officials that
Hitler will never declare war on the
United States. He is in no posi-
tion to attack the United STATES
and he has more to lose than gain
nv actual war. One reason is tnaI
It would Immediately put America
on a war basis, set in notion new
laws and powers for the Executive
and give industrial production sucn
an impetus that Herr Hitler would
meet a, much mightier array OF MILL
tary. naval and aerial force In the
next 18 months than if he swallowed
his pride and let the United states
drag along its lethargic course with
strikes and other impediments 10
efficiency.
Without a declaration OF war
moreover, Hitler can accomplish JUST
as much as if he formally construed
American naval conveys as act OF
war. He would doubtless instruct
his submarine commanders TO shoot
at American conveying vessels.
would that bring war? Not neces-
sarily. Public opinion in America
might accept thlS type VI coilriicS 90
localized precisely as the BRUSH
public accepted the operations OF
Germany and Italy with respect to
British shipping in the recent Span
fsh war-an actual case of hostintles
but no declaration of war or retiala-
tory action.
To say, therefore, that eonvoylng
means war depends on the defnl-
tion of what formal war means IN
1e41. Localized hostilities might re-
suit from conveying. but a general
outbreak between Germany and the
limited States with expeditlonary
forces and the American Navy en-
paging in offensive operations along
side the British-this is possible, OF
course, not probable. Whatever the
United States Government does Will
be construed here not as war, but
as protective neutrality which Is
SYNONYM for national defense. TINS
doctrine is based on the theory that
the Nazis are aggressors and that
aid to the victims of aggression is
an obligation of neutral which
1See LAWRENCE. Page A-12)