Evening star., 1941-05-14

o I II I u d
down. In the David Lawrence.
first World War it was the in
sistence of the United States that
her commerce could travel on the
seven seas and that her vessels could
not be attacked without warning
which gave the provocation to war.
The President in his campaign
speeches and in every public state
ment bearing on the subject has
made one qualification-he has
promised to enter no foreign wars
except in case of attack The de-
struction of any American vessels
travelling on the Red Sea would,
according to historic international
law, be an attack on the American
flag.
1t will be recalled that when the
neutrality laws we're passed, Con-
gress specifically gave the Presi-
dent discretion as to what might or
might not be considered combat
zones within which American ships
were not to go. Mr.. Roosevelt, act
ing within his discretion, has re-
moved the limitation which previ-
ously existed with respect to Amer
ican shipping in the Red Sea. If a
belligerent vessel or airplane should
. now attack any American ship IN
that area, the United States would
have basis for reprisal or at least
for resisting the attack. This means
conveys in the event that the Nazis
refuse to respect the right Of the
American ships to proceed on the
oceans.
Hitler Moves Toward Showdown.
It is, Of course, proper for the
Nazis to conflscate the contraband
cargoes of any American ships but
under international law, as up
held by the American Government,
this means search and seizure
something which neither .airplanes
nor submarines can very well at
tempt without themselves run
ming the risk of attack.
The Nazi proclamation comes at a
time when official Washington is
struggling with the issue Of conveys.
Although Secretary Stimson has
urged that the step be taken and the
President is in sympathy with the
need for the action, the exact proce-
dure by which the naval forces Of
the United States would be brought
into play has been In doubt. This
no longer is the case. for the Nazi
proclamation solves the problem
either American shipping stays on
the high seas and bows to the
threats of Hitler, or the challenge Is
taken UP and the ships sail under
the American flag and get naval and
airplane conveys to protect them.
This dilemma may have been fore
seen for several days and may ac-
count for the silence of the White
House on the convoy issue. Unques-
tionably the Red Sea problem has
been in the making for several days.
The issue can no longer be avoided.
Will a German or Japanese raider
be the first to sink American ships
In the Red Sea area? More than
20 American vessels are believed to
be en- route to the Red Sea at
present.
Hess Incident Encouraging.
Meanwhile, as a crystallization Of
the Red Sea situation Is awaited,
there is no doubt that official Wash
ington looks upon the Rudolf Hess
incident as an encouraging break"
for the British. The worldwide pub
iicity that will be given the detection
In the Nazi ranks strengthens the
hope long entertained by many
here as well as in Britain that sooner
or later there would be internal
tiissension in the Nazi ranks.
The explanation most generally
accepted here is that Hess had fore
knowledge of the closer alliance
that Is coming between Russia and
Germany and that he objected to it,
believing that Germany and Britain
had more in common than Germany
and Russia. 1t is fully expected that
Hess will be the means Of reviving
peace talk and there will be consid-
cradle suspicion for awhile as to
whether the whole thing may not
be part of a Nazi plan to divert
attention in the critical year Of 1941.
But this is only one of many fantas-
tic explanations being advanced.
The most plausible of all Is that
Hitler didn't plan the Hess fight
and that the Fuehrer is beginning
to have some of the headaches which
have plagued his adversaries. He
will now have to do more and more
explaining to the German people,
particularly as bombing attacks by
the British grow in intensity every
week.