IDENTICAL TERMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 89, 17 April 1939, Page 7

IDENTICAL TERMS.

Personal messages.

Settle Politieal, Economic And Social Problems.

DEEP IMPRESSION IN LONDON,

United Press Association.—Copyright.

LOXDOX, April 16. The personal messages which were sent in identical terms to Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini by President Koosevelt have created a deep impression in London. Simultaneously with the release of the message for publication in Washington a copy was supplied to the Foreign Office, and by that department was communicated at once to Mr. Chamberlain at Chequers and to Viscount Halifax in Yorkshire.

Significant passages in the message include the following:—"I previously approached you on the subject of the settlement of a political, economic and social problem by peaceful means and without recourse to arms, but the course of events appears to have brought back the threat of arms. If this threat continues it seems inevitable that a great part of ihe world would be engulfed in general ruin. The entire worldvictorious nations, defeated nations and neutral nations—will suffer

"I refuse to believe that the world is necessarily fated to such a destiny. On the contrary, it is clear that the leaders of the great nations have the power to free their peoples from the imminent danger. It is equally clear that in their spirit and in their hearts the peoples themselves desire that their fears should end. Death of Independence. "It is, however, necessary, unfortunately, to take into account recent events. Three nations in Europe and one in Africa have seen the death of their independence. A vast territory in another independent nation in the Far East has been occupied by a neighbouring State. According to persistent rumours, which we hope will prove illfounded, other acts of aggression are reported to be contemplated against other independent nations.

"To speak clearly, the moment is approaching when this situation must end in catastrophe unless a more rational method of managing events is found."

Proceeding, Mr. Roosevelt asks whether Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini are willing to give assurances that their armed forces would not attack the now independent nations which he mentions.

Worse for Permanent Peace. "Such an assurance clearly must apply not only to the present day, but also to the future sufficiently long to give every opportunity to work by peaceful methods for more permanent peace," says Mr. Roosevelt. "I therefore suggest that you construe the word future to apply to a minimum period of assured nonaggression—ten years at least, a quarter of- a century, if we dare look that far ahead. "If such an assurance be given I will immediately transmit it to the Governments of the nations named, and I will simultaneously inquire whether, as I am reasonably sure, each of the nations enumerated will in turn give a like assurance for transmission to you." Mr. Roosevelt proposes that if the assurances he suggests are given, two essential problems should be discussed in the resulting peaceful surroundings: (1) Measures for progressive relief from the crushing burden of armaments, and (2) measures for opening up avenues of international trade to the end that every nation should be enabled to buy and sell on equal terms in the world market, as well as to possess the assurance of obtaining materials and products of peaceful economic life.