AMERICAS’ SAFETY ZONE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 79, 27 December 1939, Page 8

AMERICAS’ SAFETY ZONE

U.S. Opinion Critical Of Protest (Received December 27, 12.15 a.m.) NEW YORK. December 26. United States opinion, reflected in the responsible Press, is critical of the Pan-American protest, last Saturday against the claimed violation of the neutrality zone in tlie naval engagement with the Admiral Graf Spee. The "New York Times” in an editorial says: “It is unfortunate that tlie Pan-American States chose to assert their claim on a basis of right in preference to tlie more accurate and more realistic basis of logical, compelling interest.” Tlie journal a'dds: “Whether the safety zone becomes a reality depends primarily not on counter-mea-sures but on ability to convince the belligerents of the desirability of avoiding antagonizing American opinion. 'fhe "Herald-Tribune” says: "The protest was awkwardly worded and utterly uninspired. The basic weakness of tlie Panama declaration is its failure to account for the fact that when nations are lighting for their existence their conduct toward neutrals is governed by st balancing of tlie possible gains and losses resulting in Homing the neutrals’ policies.” Tlie newspaper ad'ds: "When, as here, an entirely new doctrine unprecedented in international law is launched it cannot be expected that the belligerents will acquiesce unquestioningly.’’