A MIDDLE COURSE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 March 1938, Page 3

A MIDDLE COURSE.

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY. RESPECT FOR EIGHTS (By Telegraph-Press Assn.~Copyxiglit) WASHINGTON, March 16. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, in an important address outlining the American position in international affairs, left the unquestionable inference that the United States is not only prepared to take parallel action in the Par Bast, but elsewhere—namely, that where this and other nations have common interests and objectives and in dealing with problems confronting each alike, the United States will “proceed along parallel lines. ’ ’ The speech was broadcast to other nations, and American diplomatic representatives throughout nearly the whole world were previously appraised of its text. “The momentous question,’’ said Mr. Hull, "is whether the doctrine of force shall become enthroned again and bring in its wake inexorably international anarchy, or whether this and the other peaceful nations fervently attached to the principles underlying international order shall work unceasingly, singly or through co-opera-tion, to promote and preserve law, order, morality, and justice as the unshakable basis of civilised international relations. Well-Proved Extremes. The United States is determined to avoid extremes of either internationalism or isolationism and to steer a sound middle course. To waive rights and permit interests to lapse in the face of their actual or threatened violation and there- > by abandon obligations in any important areas of the world would be to invite the disregard and violation of rights and interests everywhere. For nations which seek peace to assume with respect to each other attitudes of complete aloofness would serve only to encourage and virtually invite on the part of other nations lawlessly inclined policies and actions most likely to endanger peace. “We have consistently collaborated in the present Far Eastern •emergency with other peace-seeking nations in this manner. In this collaboration there is not a trace of alliance or involvement of any sort. Co-operation With Other Nations. “The interest and concern of the United States are not measured alone by the number of American citizens residing in any particular country or by the volume of investment and trade. There is a much broader and more fundamental interest, namely, the orderly processes of international relationships. We will continue to give full and sincere adherence to the fundamental principles underlying international order and will continue, wherever necessary, and in every practical, peaceful way, to co-operate with other nations which are actuated by the same desires. "We will persevere in appropriate efforts to safeguard our legitimate rights and interests in every part of the world, and we will, while scrupu- . lously respecting the nights of others, insist on their respecting our rights.’’

MR. HULL’S OPEN AVOWAL Received Friday, 9 p.m. WASHINGTON, March 17. While it is confidently expected that Mr. Hull will be taken to task by extreme isolationists in Congress concerning his open avowal of parallel action, the first expressions of opinion were chiefly along party lines, since it is generally agreed that he only expressed the traditional aspects of American foreign policy. The opposition to Mr. Hull is perhaps best put by Representative ‘ : sh, who mid:' “Mr. Hull's speech was filled with high-sounding generalities, but it only proves that the Administration has no foreign policy and is drifting towards super-armament and war without any programme to restore peaceful relations in the world. The truth is that Mr. Hull is an internationalist and believes in using force and coercion to punish aggressor nations, and that is exactly what he means when he speaks of parallel action with nations whose objectives coincide with America’s.” The Democratic viewpoint, but neverthe less safely non-committal, was expressed by Senator Pope. “Mr. Hull is exactly right. An isolationist policy' means only world chaos, and an enlightened policy of co-operation between the nations is the only way towards peace.”