STAND IN NEUTRALITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 5

STAND IN NEUTRALITY.

UNITED STATES ATTITUDE. WAR A DANGER TO CIVILISATION WASHINGTON, October 2. The President and his Secretary of State both took occasion to-day, on what appeared to be the eve of war in Ethiopia, to enunciate phases of the Government’s foreign poircy as it pertains to the European situation. Speaking to the nation, in the presence of the United States fleet, Mr Roosevelt said: “As President ot the United States, I say to you most earnestly once more that the peupjue of America, and the Government of those people intend; and expect to remain at peace with all the world. “A foreign war is a potent danger at this moment to the future of civilisation. This country seeks no conquest. We have no imperial designs. From day to day and from year to year we are establishing more perfect assurance; and peace among our neighbours. We rejoice especially at the prosperity, ‘stability, and importance of all the American republics. “We not only earnestly desire peace, but are moved by a stern determination to avoid those perils that will endanger our peace with the world.”

The President also said that some other nations were not abiding by ; American principles of liberty, of conscience and religious freedom, but he reminded his listeners that these violations were under the jurisdiction of other flags.' He called for continued; adherence to these principles by the. American people. After his address the President boarded the cruiser Houston and set! out to review the greatest massing pf| naval ships in American history... Later j he left on a cruise down the coast of Central America.

lii Washington Mr Hhll issued a statement which was technically an answer to questions about the Government’s reaction to Mr Neville Chamberlain’s “no stabilisation”. utterance, but which was in effect a 'plea for world economic and political peace. He said he fully understood the difficulties facing Mr Chamberlain and his Government, but obviously he regret-, ted conditions which made Mr Chamberlain’s rejection of stabilisation suggestions necessary. '■■■■ “Many fears and mistrust among the nations definitely obstruct the exchange of goods and services between them such as would' give employment along useful lines,”-he said. Mr Hull emphasised that in spite or _devemv~ ments in Europe, the Administration was determined to press for reciprocal tariff treaties.

In New York the war scarw again

dislocated the market. Securities were down one to five points in heavy selling. Grain prices increased up, to five cents a bushel, and cotton was 1.50 to 2 dollars a bale higher.

. The Secretary for State (Mr Cordell Hull) addressing a mass, meeting under the auspices of the Committee on Religious Life, said “Present dangers are a challenge to the church to engage in what should be nothing less than a flaming crusade for peace.”