The Dominion MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1940. MR. ROOSEVELT’S PEACE POINTS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 148, 18 March 1940, Page 8

The Dominion MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1940. MR. ROOSEVELT’S PEACE POINTS

There is not a single item of the essentials listed by President Roosevelt' in his broadcast speech as fundamental to an enduring peace that is at variance with the general principles enunciated y the Allies in justification of their crusade against the forces of evil in Europe. Identical sentiments have been frequently expressed by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain, the Secretaiy ot State for Foreign Affairs, Viscount Halifax, and other political leaders in the United Kingdom, and endorsed by French statesmen, Ihib identity of principle is for the Allies an asset of consideiable weight. Morally speaking, it aligns more clearly and closely than before the United States, through her President, with their cause. In certain important respects, especially the rights of the smaller nations, the peace essentials set out by Mr. Roosevelt are entirely opposed to Nazi policy, and emphasize the extent to which this policy has outraged American sentiment. _ . , There is certain to be considerable speculation concerning the motive of this latest declaration by the President. It recalls the famous “Fourteen Points” enunciated by the first American President to leave his country and participate personally in a European peace conference —the late Dr. Woodrow Wilson. Those Fourteen Points exerted a very definite influence on the public opinion of the world, and, in fact, were accepted as the basic principles of the peace structure. President Roosevelt’s “moral points” may prove to have greater significance than at present appears when Mr. Sumner Welles reports to the President his impressions of his tour of the European capitals and his personal contacts with the leaders of the belligerent States, with Italy, and with the Vatican. They are indications that it will not be possible to ignore American sentiment when the time for peace-making arrives. That is a factor the importance of which Herr Hitler does not seem to realize.