What is that middle way ? General Smuts suggested that
without resorting to force there might be changes in the laws of neutrality. He meant by this, of course, that the United States would certainly not wish to help an aggressor by trading with him, and that she would therefore probably be willing to commit herself legally to that position. Then as to Mr. Hoover's particular proposal of the immunity of food ships, General Smuts frankly said that he disbelieved in trying to humanize private wars. By using the term " private wars " he implied, no doubt, that League wars—that is to say, police wars—would be capable of humanization on the ground that they would be conducted by responsible, agents of the League who, though discharging a disagree- able duty, would not be fighting for their lives. As for national life-and-death wars, he threw out the thought, that it might be easier to end them if their inhumanity was recognized as incurable.
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