Evening star., 1941-09-17
Says Enemy Decides
Sturt of War
Writer Shows How Congress
Merely Rotifies Conflicts
After They Have Begun

To the Editor Of The Star:
The power to decide whether there be
war or peace is not vested primarily
or exclusively In the Congress of the
United States, but chiefly in the enemy
and next to the enemy in the President
as the Chief Executive and as COM
mander of our Army and Navy.
Almost always the enemy begins the
war.
The President tells Congress about the
war after it has begun and asks Congress
to declare that "a state of war" exists
between the United States and the
enemy. The President, even before tell
ing Congress about it. usually has exer-
cised his constitutional privilege as Chief
Executive and commander in chief and
has struck back at the enemy as you and
I would do if hit Thus the wars of the
United States have begun since the
foundation of the Republic.
The British began the war of 1872
against the United States. "A state of
war" already existed when Madison
called it to the attention of the Con-
gress. Congress didn't declare war
against Great Britain, but declared war
exists between Great Britain and the
United States" by virtue of the acts of
war committed by Great Britain.
According to Polk, the American forces
merely were reconnoitering in the south
ern part of Texas, recently annexed
by the United States, when Mexican
forces crossed into Texas and thus
passed the boundaries of the United
States and attacked the forces of the
United States. The President, recogniz-
ing that war existed because of the acts
the invaders and asked Congress to
recognize and declare "the existence of
war" between Mexico and the United
States and to take effective measures
for war.
According to Lincoln, the Confederates
were the aggressors. They attacked Fort
Sumter, the President called for volun-
teers. the great Civil War began and
Congress was told about it afterwards
The Spanish-Cu war, which began
q little differently, is merely an excep-
ton which proves the rule.
As everybody knows, the Germans be-
gan the World War No. by sinking our
ships. Wilson fought back with armed
merchantmen and finally, when his pa
tience was exhausted. advised Congress
that "a state of war" existed between
the United States and Germany as
result of the unlawful attacks made upon
our ships by Germany, and Congress
then declared that "a state of war" ex-
listed and took adequate measures to de-
feat Germany.
The Germans have extended World
War No. 2 to us by sinking and shooting
at our ships and the President. as Chief
Executive and commander in chief, has
issued orders to eliminate the German
submarines and raiders from the seas
which we travel.
Thus the United States already has
entered World War No. 2, at least within
the zones prescribed by the President,
and in due course Congress will be ad-
viSed that "a state of war" exists and
appropriately so declare.
While in actual practice Congress has
little to do with whether there be war
or peace, it nevertheless has a great
function to perform in war-it controls
the purse. BY voting or Withholding
billions, it can make the wars of the
United States effective or ineffective.
To date 1t never has failed to recognize
and declare existing war when requested
by the President so to do, nor failed in
its fundamental war function to carry
the war on by furnishing the means for
successful prosecution thereof
HENRY E. COTTON.
Nashville, Tenn.