LEAGUE OF AMERICAN NATIONS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 115, 9 February 1937, Page 2

LEAGUE OF AMERICAN NATIONS

President Roosevelt’s Part

FAITH IN DEMOCRACY

(To the Editor.) During my recent vistii to New Zealand 1 was requested by members of your staff to indicate the reaction of the South American people in regard to the then trend of world events and especially as to the degree of local interest in the formation of a League of American Nations.

In view of the present rapid development of political events in Europe, the conferment on the Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Inter-American Peace Conference at present sitting in Buenos Aires, maybe your readers would be interested in the following, which might serve to form an idea of the American viewpoint in regard to sabrerattling in Europe. As a sequel to one of the finest and sincerest collective welcomes ever accorded an. official foreign visitor to this country, special significance has been given to the Inter-American Peace Conference which was inaugurated by the Presidents of the United States and the Argentine, Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt and General Justo respectively, on Tuesday, December 1. in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies. The words of the United States President in his inaugural address have been received universally as a happy portrayal of inter-Americau sentiment, at a time when the shadow of universal upheaval once more trembles in perspective. The speech of the distinguished visitor, in which he epitomised the ideas expressed on diverse occasions when interesting himself in continental problems of world importance, has been received generally with sincere approval. Few times, it is esteemed, have official words lent such significant colour to the American viewpoint, and especially apt are they considered at this juncture, not only for their noble sobriety but also due to their having emanated from the exceptional authority of a President of one of the greatest world nations. Eluding Future Conflicts.

Air. Roosevelt affirmed in the presence of the representatives of the American people the necessity to concert means to elude future conflicts and transform America’s traditional ire.ace in a system, in a regime, which would have the value of a permanent line of conduct and inspiration. This, he stressed, was the end toward which the Peace Conference was directed, and not to seek recourses contrary to collective tendencies, as would result from doubtful alliances, the aspiration to repart plunders of conquest and so convert the hum.an races into puppets of chance. And that harmonious sentiment, influenced by an approach to the spiritual and community of interests, would oblige, in the actual circumstances, to ponder wise and concretely on the complications and dangers which would result from the outbreak of war among trans-Atlantic nations. This was the possibility which would induce the Americas to guard against the eventuality of such a catastrophe overtaking them, partially or wholly, because everyone understood the horrors of war, which presupposed disaster to civilisation, and that which would envelope the Americas should they fail to maintain themselves outside the pale of this contagion.

President Roosevelt declared that the Americas not only were in a position to hold aloof from such grave events, but also that their influence, if properly co-ordinated, would be potent as a deterrent to the movement which in fomenting In Europe to consummate disaster. Those objectives had brought. together the delegates from the four corners of the Americas, and they would realise in practice, if a coincident volition were demonstrated, In the extension of economic intercourse and in the intermingling of mutual interests, the spade work which must be doue to secure an ever increasing degree of goodwill and culture. In fine, that was the inspiration which defined the countries represented at the conference of Buenos Aires, and its development would be so much easier the more profound the democratic spirit which influenced them in its progressive evolution. Mr. Roosevelt particnlarlj’ gave to his address the character of a declaration of faith in democracy, and. in that respect, it represented without a shadow of doubt a fine and vehement piece of eloquence. He addressed the inaugural assembly as a statesman for whom democratic methods constituted the main spring of political progress and human betterment. With the action of democracy, with the cultured activity of governments, from the respect of those governments for constitutional regimes, would it be possible to secure to the nations' the peace and tranquility chcj needed and to mankind the perfection which would guarantee individual rights. Only in that way would it be possible to resolve, in the measure that were meet, essential problems of social justice, and create a stable eunitibrium founded on democratic liberty that characterises a civilisation without hate and without violence. That, in synthesis, is the ideal predicated by the President. With that force of faith, with that deep confidence in the virtue of great conquests that move the conscience of free individuals, that excludes with identical rigor oppression and anarchy, he outlined in his discourse the destiny of the people of the Americas, so incompatible, by reason of their natural morale and their history, with instincts of aggression as with the decline which leads to submission or the resignation of democratic dignity. So spoke the President of the first Republic of America, and it is to be noted with satisfaction that the President of the Argentine expressed himself in like sentiments. Force of circumstances may hurry on to realisation the idea of a League of American Nations.

Yours truly. F. W. FLYGER. Buenos Aires, Argentina, December 5, 1936. [Mr. Flyger is manager of Shell-Mex. Argentina Ltd.]