TIME FOR A RE-DEAL

The Neutrality Act recently passed by Congress is the latest, most up-to-date and streamlined weapon for keeping the U.S. out of war. It is a product of one of the outstanding modern examples of the democratic process of debate, an unhurried and penetrating discussion of the subject by great minds all over the nation on both sides of the question. It would be a tragedy if the Act, so carefully and thoughtfully formulated should fall short of its purpose through faulty administration.

The main burden of enforcing the Act is placed upon the President. He it is who must define the areas of combat from which our ships are to be excluded, and declare what countries are belligerents. The remaining details fall in the province of the State Department. it is right that these duties should be placed in the Executive branch of the government, for that is its function. However, the record of this, branch during the past few months indicates that it will bear close watching.

These are the facts of that record. Since the war began, there has been a series of submarine alarms, all announced by the President, none of which has been confirmed by naval or other authorities. White House Press Secretary Stephen Early released a communication from Germany which called on all friends of Germany which called on all friends of Germany in the U.S. to help fight repeal of the arms embargo. The President has chosen to open the ports of the U.S to armed merchantmen of belligerent powers, while closing them to submarines. He has also given way drastically to the shipping lobby by leaving Spain and Portugal open to our ships. Finally, the Administration refused to pass the Tobey Amendment, which would have caused adoption of "cash-and-carry" several weeks ago, and thus would have prevented the dangerous City of Flint" affair.

It may be argued that most of these acts were a means of getting the arms embargo passed in jig-time, but nevertheless they still rouse suspicion that the Administration is not neutral. In striving for its immediate objective, repeal, it may well have raised a Frankenstein of anti-German feeling that will destroy its efforts to keep us out of war. The time has come for a sharp change of front. If the old accusation, "Pro-German!" is heard, it will be well to remember that Americans and Germans alike will have a medal ready for the man who can keep us out of this war.