Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-02
Takes Issue With
Critic of Britain


To the Editor Of The Star:
In a recent letter to the editor, L. K
Parent refutes David Lawrence's COM
ment that never has the United States
permitted foreign government to die
tate how it may use the high seas" by
citing facts about this war and the first
World War which he believes to be sub
stantial proof to the contrary. He makes
his case against Britain by suggesting
that she is debating to us right now by
her use of navicerts, by her refusal to
recognize our 300-mile neutrality zone
and by searching our ships and mails.
Furthermore. he labels Britain an in
corrigible offender, contemptuous of our
official protests and by inference the
truculent beneficiary of diplomatic
fait accompn which permits her mastery
Of the sea to react to Germany's ad-
mitted disadvantage.
Because in voicing his protest against
our weak submission to Britain's
poorly concealed indifference to NaA
Interpretation of international law, Mr..
Parent suggests that we call a spade
spade, I respectfully invite his atten-
ton to the following facts and infer
enceS.
Hitler has declared total war upon
our democratic theology. It Is the total
war of the jungle beast, without morals,
without honor and without mercy. His
obvious strategy Is first to confuse his
enemies, then divide them by segregat-
ing the weaker from the sympathy and
protection of the stronger, and finally
to utterly destroy the segregated victim
in such ruthless fashion as to discour-
age further resistance and to strike
terror in the hearts of those who remain.
Against this fiendish strategy of total
depravity democracy was compelled to
devise a strategy of total defense. If
we would survive, this total defense must
be realistic rather than quixotic. Bitter
experience taught us that Hitler always
used his victims sense of decency, pro-
priety and humanity for their own be-
trayal and undoing. Democracy's re-
spect for international law and order,
its insistence upon minority rights and
its natural adherence of international
treachery and broken faith became the
ever open door to his deadly fifth COL
umnists
Britain has long since learned to call
q spade a spade. Mr.. Parent admits the
right of belligerent to seize or destroy
contraband. Seemingly his only quar-
rel with Britain is her adamant refusal
to let Germany define contraband and
dictate the terms and circumstances by
which it becomes the legitimate prey of
another belligerent.
The navicert was necessary tnstru-
ment Of diplomatic defense designed to
limit the flow of contraband to Nazi
Germany through the connivance of
such acknowledgements as Italy and Rus
STA. Whereas outright seizure would
have changed their status to active bel
ligerency, the navicert was hoped to
accomplish the same result without be-
coming q casus belli. Some went so
far as to believe that it might be q
means of discouraging full compliance
of the Axis partners with the military
commitments of their alliance. Subse-
quent events proved the navicert method
was wrong. Britain would have served
democracys self-interest better by. out
right. seizure OF what every one knew
to be eontraband. Mr.. Parent should