America and Neutrality Continued attention is being directed in the
United States to the question of the country's neutrality in a future war, with a view primarily to avoiding any of the complications in which America was involved in the years 1914-1918, and only secondarily, if at all, to the effect it would have on any collective action other countries might be taking in the case of an attempted aggression. But in view of the role Great Britain may be able to play in harmonizing American international policy and European, the speech which Mr. Cordell Hull, the Secretary of State. is expected to deliver on the neutrality question on April 27th will be awaited with very considerable interest. Meanwhile the Senate is discussing proposals that all loans and credits shall be withheld from belligerent nations, and in other influential quarters an attempt is being made to prevent the sale of munitions to any belligerent. (It would have gone ill with Great Britain in the Great War it' such enactments had been in force in the days when America was still a neutral.) The United States will never be able to make more than a negative contribution to the main- tenance of a world peace system till she admits the principle of distinguishing. in point of culpability, between two belligerents. But it is to be noted that America has never withdrawn her assurance of joint consultation (not, of course, of joint action) in the event of a violation of the Kellogg Pact.
