CRITICAL VIEWS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20130, 27 December 1939, Page 7

CRITICAL VIEWS

ECHO OF PROTEST PAN-AMERICAN STATES BREACH OF NEUTRALITY | NEW YORK COMMENT UTTERLY UNINSPIRED (Elec. Tel. Copyright,—CJnited Press Assn.) (Reed. Dee. 27, 9 a.m.) NEW YORK, Dee. 26. United States opinion as reflected in the responsible press is critical of the protest made by the Pan-American States to Britain, France and Germany against the violation of the neutrality j zone, and the announcement of the beginning of negotiations to' strengthen Pan America’s neutrality, including an (agreement to prevent belligerent warships refuelling and carrying out repairs in American ports after committing warlike acts within the zone. The New York Times, in an editorial, says: “It is unfortunate that the Pan-American States chose to assert their claim on the basis of right in preference to the more accurate and more realistic basis of logical compelling interest.” Awkwardly Worded The journal adds: “Whether the safety zone becomes reality depends primarily, not on counter measures, but on ability to convince the belligerents of the desirability of avoiding antagonising American opinion.” The New York Heralcl-Tribune says: “The protest was awkwardly worded and utterly uninspired. The basic weakness of the Panama declaration is its failure to account for the fact that when the nations are fighting for their existence, their conduct towards neutrals is governed by the balancing ol possible gains and losses, resulting in the flouting of neutrals’ policies.” The newspaper adds: “When, as here, an entirely new doctrine, unprecedented in international law, is launched, it cannot be expected that belligerents will acquiesce unquestioningly.”