PERMANENT HARMONY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 82, 17 January 1928, Page 5

PERMANENT HARMONY

PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS.

SPEECH BY MR COOLIDGE.

GOOD FEELING TOWARD OTHERS

(Per Press right.) (Received This Day> 8.25 a.m.) HAVANA, January 16. Journeying outside his homeland for the first time since he became President, Mr Coolidge, in a speech keyed to a note of international confidence, helpfulness' and goodwill, opened the sixth Pan-American Congress to-day by urging nations in the Western Hemisphere to join in the task of assuring for all its people the freedom Columbus bequeathed them. In equal measure, without mentioning the League of Nations or the Monroe Doctrine, he assured the Congress that pan-American -onion did not involve antagonism to any section of the world or to any other organisation, but he declared that the American nations were committed to the principle that they are better fitted to govern themselves than anyone else is. The United States was prepared to encourage all peaceful pursuits tending to bring the various units of the American family of States closer in more permanent harmony. There was no intention in that Hemisphere by any nation of building up a great military establishment to overawe or subjugate its neighbours. Mr Coolidge enunciated the doctrine. “All nations in the Hemisphere are determined to adjust their differences, not by resort to force, but by the application of the principles of justice and equity.”

INHERENT DESIRE FOR PEACE.

HAVANA, January 16. President Coolidge addressed the Pan-American Conference. He paid a tribute to the inherent desire for peace manifested by the American republics and the absence of large military establishments from the New World. He declared that they all adopted the spirit of accommodation, goodwill, confidence, mutual helpfulness and consultation.

Mr Coolidge said: “With each succeeding conference agreements for the -orderly settlement of such difference as may arise between the American republics have been extended and strengthened, thus making their relationship more certain and,more secure.’’

VEILED EXPRESSIONS OF VIEWS.

(Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) HAVANA, January 16. In their speeches at the opening «f the Pan - American Conference, Mr Coolidge andl General Machado joined in advocating a policy of mutual goodwill and respect for American nations. They disclosed, in somewhat veiled terms,' the respective views of Latin-American nations and the United States regarding the destiny of the Western Hemisphere. General Machado took occasion to stress Cuba’s complete independence.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. HAVANA, January 16. Great crowds received President Coolidge enthusiastically on his arrival in •the battleship Texas. Ho and General Machada (President of Cuba) will attend the Pan-American Conference today, and aftenvards Mr Coolidge will attend several functions organised in his honour. He will leave on his return to the United States on Tuesday morning.

The foreign Ministers of all the 20 American republics are attending the Conference. Mr C. E. Hughes (a former Secretary of State) was chosen .3by Mr Coolidge as the American delegate. The President’s visit in some quarters was regarded as merely formal, but in others it was expected that he would go with the intention of delivering a’ speech on the American policy of his administration, designed to remove the impression prevailing throughout Latin America that the United States is committed to a thorough - going series of Imperialist schemes in Central and South America. “It is unquestionable that the policy of Washington, as directed by the last two Secretaries of States, has tended to deepen this impression,” said an English observer, “which has latterly been connected especially with Mr Kellogg's attitude toward Mexico and i\iearagua. The particular point of interest, however, is to be found in Mr Coolidge’s persona] plans. He is an untravelled President. His summer vacation in the West this year was for him an unusual adventure. Havana, of course, is a very easy journey from Washington, but it is safe to say that many millions of Americans will not believe that the President is going until he is actually on the way.” The trouble in Nicaragua, where

American marines are fighting against the rebels and supporting President Diaz, is expected to provoke discussion of the United States “Imperialism.” Another matter of interest is the building of an international highway from Maine to Chile.