Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1940. MOBILISING THE NEUTRALS.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1940. MOBILISING THE NEUTRALS.

A LTIIOUGII the nature of the mission in whieh the American Under-Secretary of State is now engaged in Europe was stated explicitly when the mission was first announced, last, month, suggestions are made in the news cablegrams from time to time that Mr Welles may be attempting to pave the. way for a direct and early attempt by the United States to promote peace between the Allied democracies and Germany. These suggestions plainly are unwarranted. Following upon an announcement by the American Secretary of State (Air Cordell Hull) on February 9 that Mr Welles was being despatched on a special mission to Italy, France, Germany and Great Britain, President, Roosevelt read to Press correspondents a prepared statement in which the task assigned to Air AX elles was defined clearly and with exactitude. This visit (the President, said) is solely for the purpose of advising the President and the Secretary of State as to present conditions in Europe Mr Welles will, of course, be authorised to make no proposals or commitments in the name of the Government of the United States. Furthermore, statements made to him by officials of governments will be kept in the strictest confidence and will be communicaed by him solely to the President and the Secretary of State. While Air Roosevelt declined to amplify this statement in any way, it was stated in subsequent comment that informed observers in Washington were accepting the assumption that neither Mr Roosevelt nor Secretary Hull has any intention of causing a situation which will reward aggression as to the result of the war, nor do they assume to tell Britain and France who are now bearing the burden for taking a stand which most Americans readily criticised them for not taking earlier what must be done to end the war. While assurances were thus offered that the American Government had no thought, of embarrassing the Allies by putting forward premature peace proposals, it was pointed out that, the appointment of Mr Welles to undertake “a careful, coordinated first-hand synthesis of the present position and to equip the President With a synthesis of the whole European picture” followed upon action, already taken by Air Hull in developing close and co-operative relations with the leading neutral. Powers. This action, it was suggested, might lead up naturally to the summoning of an international conference of all interested neutrals. On that subject, Air J. Roscoe Drummond wrote recently in the “Christian Science Monitor” that, from the'period immediately following the outbreak of the war, the European neutrals,' through their Ambassadors and Ministers, had been discussing their problems at the While House and the State Department, and, he added, it is reliably reported that they themselves have suggested the possibility of joining with the neutral republics of the Western Hemisphere in a common bloc to secure and safeguard their nonbelligerent position. The larger purpose which Secretary Hull now wishes to serve is to enlist the mutual interests of the neutrals in preserving their neutrality on to the next level of co-operation and direct the whole weight of neutral influence toward preparation for a better peace. The conference of neutrals would be in the nature of a-preliminary peace confrence and it would have as one of its major aims . . . the' restoration of normal economic relations in the world. While any premature peace move by the United States tending to play into the hands of totalitarian aggressors would rightly be resented by the Allies, an attempt to organise the neutral nations in defence of their common, interest is an enterprise that may be welcomed unreservedly. It is true that some European neutrals of late have failed signally to distinguish in their diplomatic protests between the exorcise by the Allies of legal, rights of contraband control and criminal and murderous violations by both Germany and Russia, .of international law and of the principles of common humanity. .More noisy protests have been made against merely technical breaches like the action of ILAI.S. Cossack in releasing the British prisoners of war illegally held on the Altmarek in Norwegian territorial waters, and against shipping delays arising from the. Allied blockade, than against the Soviet invasion of Finland or the deeds of murderous lawlessness in which Germany is employing her submarines and aircraft against, neutral as well as Allied shipping. The lack of balance thus exhibited by European neutrals obviously is accounted for, however, chiefly by fear that they in turn may be invaded by the aggressor nations. Tn the extent to which they dra|w together in defence of their real interests, neutral nations may be expected to find themselves increasingly in sympathy with the Allies, who are fighting to establish world conditions in whieh small as well as great nations would enjoy safety and security. Meantime, a tour of inquiry like that being made by Mr AVelles as the responsible envoy of the President of the United States is to be welcomed because it may be expected to lead to a clearer perception and understanding of the realities of the world situation, and possibly may help to open the way to measures of neutral co-operalion which are wholly to be desired.