American Peacemakers The Pan-American Conference at Buenos Ayres has put
considerable solid achievement to its credit. The conference has gripped realities more firmly than most of its predecessors and postponed, pending further reflection, controversial proposals like that for the creation of an American League of Nations. The United States has adopted an attitude of wise leadership without attempt at domination,. and her full acceptance of the principle of non-intervention in the affairs of other States goes far to wipe out the memory of extensions of the Monroe Doctrine by which the despatch of United States troops to Nicaragua and other Latin republics was justified. The measures to prevent war do not go beyond a pledge of joint consultation, but the conference undoubtedly foreshadows a powerful mobilisation, in an emergency, of the forces making for peace in the Western Hemisphere, and even greater importance than the Buenos Ayres Conference is a decision given by the Supreme Court at Washington on Monday confirming the constitutionality of President Roosevelt's action in declaring an embargo on the export of 'arms to both belligerents during the Chaco War of 1984. The ruling, and the Court's observations which accompanied it, should do much to secure the passage of legislation which the President desires, to enable him to prohibit the export of munitions and other commodities to any belligerent. If, as is to be feared, this means to both belliguents in any war, it is of course an undiscriminating provision and may seriously penalise an innocent victim of aggression.'
