DISTRUSTFUL NATIONS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 July 1925, Page 5

DISTRUSTFUL NATIONS.

FACTS FOR MUTUAL SECURITY

ADVICE FROM U.S.A. PRESIDENT

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

WASHINGTON, July 3. At Cambridge, Massachusetts, in counselling European nationals to enter pacts for their mutual security if they were distrustful of each other. President Coolidge pleaded that to such covenants the moral support of the United States Government should be given in the interests of lasting peace. The president- made this statement in a brief passage of speech which was otherwise devoted to an analysis of the character and achievements of George Washington on the occasion of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Washington’s taking command of the continental army. Mr Coolidge said:

‘•Washington demonstrated by arguments, and our country demonstrated bv experience, that more progress can be made-by co-operation than by conflict. To agree quickly with your adversary always pays. The world has not outgrown, and never can outgrow, the absolute necessity for conformity with these general principles. •‘1 want to see America assume a leadership among the nations in reliance upon the good faith of mankind. 1 do not see how civilisation can ex poet to make permanent progress on any other theory. If what is saved in productive peace to-day be lost in destructive war to-morrow, the people, of this earth can 'ook forward to nothing but everlasting servitude, and there is justification for the hope that this was -iot the conception Washington had of life. “If tile people of the Old World are mutually distrustful of each other, let them enter into mutual covenants for their mutual security, and when such covenants are made let them be solemnv observed, no matter what the sacrifice. They have sett’ed the far more difficult problems of reparations, and they are in process of funding debts to the" United States. Why can they not agree on permanent terms of peace and fully re-establish ' international faith and credit? If there be differences which cannot be adjusted moment, if there bo conditions wnich cannot he foreseen, let them be sowed in future by methods of arbitration and forms of judicial determination. “While oar country should refrain from making political commitments where it does not have political interests. .such covenants would always have the support of our Government, and could not fail to have the commendation of public opinion. Such a course would be sure to endow the participatin'/ nations with abundant materia-, and spiritual reward. On what other basis can there he any encouragement for the disposition to attempt a financial revival in Europe? “The world has tried war with force ai ! utterly failed. The only hope of success iies in peace with justice. No other principle conforms to. the teaching of Washington. No.other course makes so much promise of regeneration foi the world.”