U.S.A. FOREIGN POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 March 1944, Page 5

U.S.A. FOREIGN POLICY

MR. HULL’S SUMMARY

POST-WAR OBJECTIVES

WASHINGTON, March 21. A 17-point summary of the United States foreign policy, based on his speeches of the last two years, has been issued by the United States Foreign Secretary (Mr. Cordell Hull) to satisfy growing pußlic curiosity and answer critics. The points are: — (1) “United States foreign policy’s paramount aim is to defeat our enemies as quickly as possible, and thereafter to assure national security and foster economic and social well-being among our people. (2) “A ‘good neighbour’ policy of co-operation among the nations based on liberity, equality, justice, morality, and law.

(3) “The creation of an international agency capable, by force if necessary, of maintaining world peace. (4) “To submit to arbitration and conciliation political differences among the nations which threaten peace.

(5) “Adjudication by an international court of justice on legal disputes threatening world peace. (6) “Adjustment of national armaments by international co-operation to ensure that armaments are reduced to a minimum.

(7) “Adoption of the Moscow Declaration for post-war co-operative effort enabling large and small nations to live in peace and security and pre-, serve their liberties and rights. (8) “Implementation of the Moscow Declaration will eliminate the need for spheres of influence, alliances, and balances of power.' (9) “The United Nations must exercise surveillance over aggressors until they have demonstrated their willingness and ability to live in peace. (10) “Excessive trade barriers must be reduced and injurious trade and economic courses avoided. (11) “Free exchange of national currencies at stable rates, also a system of financial relations enabling materials to be produced and moved to markets where they are needed. (12) “Fulfilment of the Atlantic Charter pledge giving greater assurance of a stable peace and greater opportunity for realisation of aspirations to freedom. (13) “Each nation, large and small, is equal to every other nation. The principle of sovereign equality will be the foundation for whatever future international organisation is constructed. . , ~ , _ . (14) “Each nation should be free to decide the details of its governmental organisation as long as it does not menace others. . (15) “All nations, regardless of size, are entitled to freedom from outside interference in their affairs. (16) “The surest way for men and nations to prove their capacity foi liberty is to fight for it against those who would destroy it. (17) “Independent nations have responsibility to dependent peoples asoiring to liberty. Nations having political ties with dependent peoples have a duty to help aspiring peoples to develop nationally and educationally in preparation for self-govern-ment and the attainment of libeity. An excellent example of what can be achieved is the Philippines.’ OIL SUPPLIES. WASHINGTON, March 21. The decision to build the transArabian pipeline was taken by The joint chiefs of staff primarily as a ‘military measure and second as an attempt to solve the problem ol the dwindling supply of .petroleum in the American hemisphere, said the retarv of the Navy (Colonel Knox). No selfish oil companies,, he said, should be permitted to interfere With the construction. , He pointed out that 90 per cent, of the oil used in the war so far had come from American reserves. The proposed pipeline would tap a one thousand million-barrel reserve, and pro\ ide all the oil needed in the Mediterranean area. Furthermore, it would provide a reserve for future safety and secui - ity, conserve tanker space, and reduce the costs of transportation. N a ' ,aJ oil experts said that the United States oil resources in the Western Hemisphere were producing 90 per cent, ol the oil currently used throughout the world for all purposes, including do mestic United States consumption. Colonel Knox described the tiansArabian proposal as one of the nisi indications of the. birth of a genuine United States foreign policy. He said that Britain had a loreign policy on oil “while we have been exhausting our resources by selling large amounts abroad. With the development of the pipeline should come a rigid restriction of American oil for American use and a material curtailment of exports.” The proposal is not an attempt to put the Government in the oil business, but to ensure oil for ships and aeroplanes, and ensure economy until other fuels or other types of motors were developed.

ATTITUDE TO VICHY. WASHINGTON, March 21. “Absurd reports and rumours, evidently inspired, which are periodically occurring and endeavouring to create the impression that this Government upon the liberation of France intends to deal with the Vichy Government or certain individuals directly or indirectly supporting the policy of German collaboration, are false on their face, says a statement issued by the State Department. “The tact that the United States has kept representatives at Vichy for some time tor such vital purposes as combating Nazi designs has been most amazingly falsely represented as founded upon a sympathetic relationship between the American Government and pro-Axis supporters at Vichy. No loyal supporter of the Allied cause would make the ridiculous charge that the United States while sending military forces and vast military supplies to the most distant battlefields to prosecute the war against the Axis Powers would at the same time have no dealings with the Vichy regime except for the purpose ol abolishing it.” ~ , The Associated Press says that stories from Algiers in the last tew days have caused concern in official Quarters in Washington because the British and American Governments are now formulating a policy vis-a-vis the French Committee of National Liberation. The United States officially informed the French Committee in January that it did not intend dealing wi,th the Vichy regime.

ATLANTIC CHARTER

RUGBY, March 22

Mr. Churchill said in the Commons to-day, that the Atlantic Charter stands as a declaration of the spirit and purpose for wHicH its signatories are waging this war, and implies no pact on the bargain with our enemies. He was answering Mr. D. L. Lipson (Independent), who asf ed, in view of the doubts which existed as to what territories and principles the Atlantic Charter are to apply, he would make a clarifying statement. Mr. Churchill added: “It is evident that as the changing phases of the war succeed one another, some further clarification will be required of the position under the document which has become honourably known as the Atlantic Charter, and. this must be a subject for renewed consideration between the principal Allies. I am not prepared to embark up-

on this subject at question-time today.” Asked if support of the Government for the principles of the Atlantic Charter remain as strong to-day as when it was signed, Mr. Churchill replied that his answer implied no contradiction of the honourable member’s question.