AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

Evening Star, Issue 23378, 22 September 1939, Page 9

AMERICAN NEUTRALITY

REPEAL OF ARMS EMBARGO ROOSEVELT’S VIGOROUS ADVOCACY HIS PROGRAMME THE ROAD TO PEACE KEEPING U.S.A. OUT OF WAR WASHINGTON, September 21. (Received September 22, at noon) At the reopening of Congress President Roosevelt urged the repeal of embargo provisions of the Neutrality Act and a return to the principles of international law in trading with belligerents. Ho proposed that after the repeal there should be: (1) Authority to fix war zones in which American merchant ships may not enter. (2) Broader authority to prevent nationals from travelling in belligerent ships or danger zones. (3) Belligerents purchasing commodities in the United States must take a title thereto before shipment. (4) A ban on war credits to belligerents. The result of the last two provisions would be all purchases would bo made in cash and cargoes would be carried at the purchasers’ risk in the purchasers’ ships. President Roosevelt proposed that after the enactment of this programme Congress should adjourn, but be subject to recall in the event of war or other developments requiring attention. “ These perilous days demand cooperation without a trace of partisanship, and our acts must be guided by one single hard-headed thought—keeping America out of war. I cannot offer the hope that the shadow will pass swiftly, and a darker period may lie ahead. The disaster is not of our making, and no act of ours has engendered the forces assaulting the foundations of civilisation. Yet, we are affected to the core. The currents of commerce are changing, and our minds are filled with new problems. Our position in world affairs has been altered.” Tho President declared that the present legislation so altered the United States’ historic foreign policy that it impaired peaceful relations with foreign nations. He said the enactment did more than merely-reverse United States traditional policy. It put the land Powers on the same footing as the naval Powers as far as sea-borne commerce was concerned. A land Power threatening war was thus assured in advance that a prospective sea Power antagonist would be weakened through denial of the ancient right to buy anything anywhere. This gave an advantage to one belligerent, not because of his Town strength or geographic position, but through affirmative action by the United States. Removal of the embargo would merely revert to the sounder international practice of pursuing in war time, as in peace time, ordinary trade policies. It would put the United States back on a solid footing of real traditional neutrality; POSITIVE SAFETY PROGRAMME. Ho urged that the proposed amendment offered greater safeguards than were now possessed, or were ever possessed, to protect American lives and property. It was a positive safety programme, and meant less likelihood of incidents or controversies tending to draw the United into the war. Therein lay the road to peace. President Roosevelt added that, having striven and failed to avert war, he was not losing any time in an effort to prevent the United States’ involvement. He predicted success in this direction.

, “ I regret that Congress passed the Neutrality Act, and regret equally that I signed the Act. I give you my deep, unalterable convition that, by its repeal, the United States will more probably remain in peace than if the law remains. Fate seems now to compel us to assume the task of helping to maintain in the Western world a citadel in which civilisation can be kept alive regardless of party. “ The mantle of peace and patriotism is wide enough to cover all. Let no group assume the exclusive label of a peace bloc to which all belong.”

Ho urged those seeking to retain the embargo to he consistent and seek legislation to prevent the sale of copper, meat, wheat, cloth, . and a thousand other articles to the belligerents. President Roosevelt pointed out that the first, second, and third objectives could be achieved either by Act of Congress or executive proclamation. The fourth could be achieved by maintaining the existing provisions or a proclamation notifying American citizens giving credit to belligerents that they would not bo protected against loss. He added that Congress should make its own choice of the method whereby safeguards were to be attained. Recalling his January speech, the President declared that the essentials for American peace had not changed since, therefore he asked for re-exam-ination of legislative action in respect to that part which was inconsistent with ancient precepts, because he believed they were vitally dangerous to American peace, neutrality, and security. The Senate adjourned for recess until September 25 amid cries of the public outside the Capitol: “Peace! Keep us out of war; preserve our neutrality! Hurrah for Roosevelt I”

President Roosevelt’s speech was largely a repetition of warnings and arguments and examination of historical and traditional aspects that had served the United States well for 150 years, except during the disastrous interlude of the Embargo and Non-inter-course Acts.

Mr Cordell Hall said the lifting of the arms embargo would not be unneutral. On the contrary, it would con-

stitute a return to the neutral position under international law from th« un-neutral position in which the Neutrality Act had placed the United States. He asserted that the United States had the right to change her neutrality policies regardless of the attitude of the belligerents. OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT. Ten Republican, four Democrat, two Farm Labour, and one Progressive Senators met before the session to organise opposition to President Roosevelt. They included Senator Lafgllette, Senator Borah, and Senator Van-* dqnburg.