LAST-MINUTE PLEA FOR PEACE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 200, 25 August 1939, Page 7

LAST-MINUTE PLEA FOR PEACE

ROOSEVELT ACTS King Of Italy Asked To Use His Influence SIGNIFICANT STEP TAKEN

(Received 10 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, August 24

President Roosevelt has appealed to King Victor Emmanuel of Italy to use his good offices to avert war. He said: "The United States accepts as a fact that all nations have a nabsolute right to maintain their national independence if they so desire. If that be a sound doctrine, then it must apply to the weaker nations as well as to the stronger."

The President's new effort to preserve world peace was announced by the State Department as Mr. Roosevelt sped towards Washington by special train to take personal command of the situation. The United States Ambassador to Italy, Mr. William Phillips, transmitted the appeal to the King. It went to no other country but Italy. Mr. Roosevelt said: "If the idea of the independence of all nations is accepted this will mean peace because the fear of aggression will end. The alternative, which means of necessity efforts by the strong to dominate the weak, will lead not only to war, but also to long future years of oppression on the part of the victor and to rebellion on the part of the vanquished." Italy Not Party to Crisis. The President asked the King to have the Italian Government formulate proposals for a peaceful solution of the present crisis. His message was a surprise appeal because it appeared to assume that the Italian Government was not a direct party to the developing war crisis. The message was addressed directly to the King and was not sent to the heads of any other Governments involved in the crisis. The Secretary of State. Mr. Cordell Hull, said that copies were being sent to American diplomatic representatives in other European countries. Presumably they will be given to the Governments of these countries as a matter of information. The reason for Mr. Roosevelt's selection of the Italian King as the recipient of his message is not stated. Usually, when the use of good offices is suggested by the President the suggestion is sent to some neutral Government, not to one of the Powers involved in the controversy. The President specifically said: "Were it possible for Your Majesty's Government to formulate proposals for a pacific solution of the present crisis along these lines (peaceful conversations to consider political and territorial problems) you are assured of the earnest sympathy of the United States. The Governments of Italy and the United States can to-day advance those icieals of Christianity which of late seem so often to have been obscured." Personal Message to the King. The American Associated Press Rome correspondent says the American An#Dassador delivered the personal message from President Roosevelt to King Victor Emmanuel "on behalf of the maintenance of world peace." Other sources confirm Mr. Roosevelt's appeal. It is understood that King Victor Emmanuel promised consideration. A Berlin Government spokesman said that Herr Hitler is too busy to bother about the appeals and actions of President Roosevelt." The calling up of further Italian reservists has been delayed in order to avoid aggravating the crisis. There is still a certain optimism in Italy and no sign of alarm in the streets of Rome. Official circles do not disguise anxiety to avoid a catastrophe. A later message states that extraordinary calm reigns. Rome still hopes that war will be avoided. A message from London says the American Ambassador there Mr. J. P. Kennedy has advised Americans to return to the United States unless their business abroad is urgent.