Evening star., 1941-11-02


Roosevelts Navy Day address brought a
much sharper definition to the anon
alous position of the United States in
regard to the present war. They were
the nat statements, both well to the fore
In the speech, that the shooting has
started and America has been at
tackled"
From the attitude assumed with these
assertions by the Chief Executive it
would be difficult though not yet i'm
possible, for the Nation to withdraw.
The President now in effect has issued
a declaration of war on Germany, in
retaliation for what he regards as in
tolerable acts of aggression against this
country. But such a declaration. under
our system of government must obtain
congressional sanction in order to pos
sess validity
Mr.. Roosevelt himself tacitlv admits
his incomplete authority in the matter by
continuing to maintain formal diplo-
matte relations with Hitler If the Navy
Day address had itself altered the legal
position, the staff of the German En-
bassy would by this time have been re-
quested to leave Washington.
The situation is therefore one in which
the President has indirectly asked for,
but has not yet directly received. au-
thority to attack Germany in response
to the attacks, committed or anticipated,
against this country. 1t is that situation
which makes the present congressional
debate on amendment of the Neutrality
Act OF such historic Importance.
For the first time in the evolving war
issue, executive declaration and legisla-
tive confirmation have been adequately
synchronized Since the Navy Day
speech almost everybody realizes that
Congress is now debating, and shortly
will vote on. what is in effect a mandate
to the President to make war.
Not of Presidents Choosing.
This situation, 1t must be noted, is not
OF the Presidents choosing. The admin
istration had of its own volition request
ed from Congress repeal of only one part
Of the remaining sections of the Neu-
trality Act-that which prohibits the
arming of American merchant ships 1t
is due to Republican intervention. en-
gineered by Wendell L. Willkie. that the
issue in the Senate has now been broad
ened to include repeal of the remainder
Of the neutrality statute.
That Republican action clarifies the
issue and in so doing makes it more
controversial. The mere authorization
for the arming of merchant ships. which
the House approved on October II by a
vote of 259 to 1873, could not be and was
not debated as congressional sanction
for war. But the substitute bill now be-
fore the Senate can and should be re-
garded as precisely that.
The cold fact is Illuminated by the
official title of the statute for which COM
plete repeal is now asked. Neutrality
Act is only the colloquial and mac
curate name for the law which at passage
was formally designated as the Keep
America Out of War Act
The administration now has accepted
the sharper definition of the issue which
Republican intervention brought about.
In his Navy Day speech the President
praised the action of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in reporting out
bill going far beyond the measure passed
by the House. That" said Mr.. Roose-
welt with admirable candor, lis the
course of honesty and realism"
Not Due to White House Planning.
It seems largely accidental that eXecu-
tive direction and legislative approval
IN the field of foreign policy are now at
last being brought in line. Certainly 1t
was not due to White House planning
that the bill now before the Senate was
broadened to be an explicit repeal OF the
Keep America Out of War Act" But
those who favor and those VINO oppose
outright American belligerency will alike
be disposed to welcome the Development
The situation is complicated, however,
by the fact that the character OF the
war envisaged remains much more OBJ
scure than the willingness of the admin
istration to meet the Axis challenge with
military force. 1--WE Americans said
Mr.. Roosevelt last Monday night have
cleared our decks and taken our battle
stations" But it is not at all clear just
where the fighting is to take place.
The President himself has not yet