OCR Text |
Show Neutrality Is Out Of Date The idea that the United States should worry about observing "its own neutrality" is absurd in the light of the fact that there is no such thing as neutrality in the world today. In former years, when two or more nations went to war, other nations proclaimed their neutrality, neutral-ity, signifying an intension to treat both sides alike and putting belligerents upon notice to observe ob-serve the rights of the neutral nations. The sole advantage of a policy of neutrality is to be found if at all, in the observance of the complete rights of the neutral nations na-tions by the belligerent nations. In the present condition of world affairs, the totalitarian powers, includng Germany, Ithly and Japan, have long since presented pre-sented conclusive proof that the rights of neutrals have no standing stand-ing with them unless backed by sufficient military strength to make it unwise for the totalitarian totalitar-ian natons to infringe on their rights. There is not the slightest reason in the world to suspect that cither Germany, Italy or Japan would respect any single right of the United States, in return for a policy of neutrality on the part of this country. The history of the past decade demonstrates conclusively that these nations will violate the rights of any country with impunity and that they have no respect for any power in the world except that which is upheld by ample military, mili-tary, naval and aerial strength. In the present struggle between be-tween Germany and Great Britain, Bri-tain, there is no use whatever in pretending that the United Stales, as a people or as a government, is neutral. In fact, our national policy toward the struggle now going on is dictated by the interests inter-ests of the United States, which require, in our own self-protection that we extend every possible possi-ble assistance to Great Britain. This course is justified, not by resort re-sort to outmoded conventions of neutrality, but by the common sense realization that Great Britain Bri-tain is our first line of defense. Naturally, it is not to be expected ex-pected that Ilerr Hitler and Nazi Germany will approve of the course taken by this country. If the time ever comes when Hitler believes that German is strong enough to take the measure of the United Stales, the people ol this country will have to fight for their lives. No observation of neutrality today would save this country from a German attack if Germany Ger-many conquers Great Britain. The best insurance that we can have against becoming involved in a major war is a British victory and, as a nation, we will be extremely ex-tremely foolish to leave undone anything that we can do to bring about this result. |