ON SOUND BASIS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 118, 12 February 1940, Page 9

ON SOUND BASIS

American Effort To Restore Peace TALK WITH NEUTRALS Envoy To Make Survey Of Europe By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received February 11, 5.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 10. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, announced that informal diplomatic conversations have begun with several neutral States with a view to the eventual restoration of world peace on a sound and lasting basis.

He added that the conversations will probably be broadened to include all neutrals.

President Roosevelt announced that he is sending the Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Sumner Welles, to Europe for a personal survey of conditions in Italy, Germany, Britain, and France. Mr. Welles has been instructed to make no. proposals or commitments in the name of the United States, the visit being solely for tlie purpose of advising the President and the Secretary of State on present conditions in Europe. He will sail for Italy on February 17. The State Department emphasizes that Mr. Welles’s trip is not connected with Mr. Hull’s statement, the text of which is as follows: —“In view of the effect of hostilities on neutrals and neutrals’ evident desire for the eventual restoration of world peace on a sound and lasting basis for all nations, informal diplomatic conversations have begun with neutral Governments and will probably be continued with all neutrals.

“It should be emphasized that the conversations involve no plan or plans, but are in the nature of-preliminary inquiries relating to a sound international economic system and simultaneously a world-wide reduction of armaments.

“Matters involving the present war conditions are not part of these preliminary conversations, which can be extended to the belligerents in so far as they involve these two common problems of future peace.” Mr. Hull indicated that Italy, Germany, England, and France had been informed in advance of the purposes of the proposed visit by the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Summer Welles. Mr. Hull added that .Mr. Welles would first visiit Italy and would then go to Germany, France, and Britain. Mr. Hull declined to reveal the neutral countries with which the United States was at present conversing. A further statement by Sir. Hull is regarded as clarifying Sir. Roosevelt’s peace efforts. Sir. Hull emphasized that they are not directed at securing an immediate cessation of hostilities. “The conversations with the neutrals are for tlie purpose of determining an equitable economic basis for peace after the war is ended,’’ he said, and that the United States is seeking commitments by the neutrals to the principles of a programme of sound international relations, the United States believing that such relations and a progressive curtailment of armaments are the only means of avoiding world autarchy and economic totalitarianism. The conversations would be limited to achieving an agreement on these issues so as to create solidarity when a peace conference comes.