IN AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1939, Page 5

IN AMERICA

ANOTHER WARNING ISSUED BY MR HULL. - (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright), WASHINGTON, April 26. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) to-night addressed the National Convention of the Red Cross in terms which were at once a plea for peace and a warning that war would inevitably react disastrously upon the aggressors. Unusual significance is attached to the speech—although no nation’s statesmen were named—because it was delivered almost on the eve of Herr Hitler’s reply to Mr Roosevelt’s peace plea. , f, ■ Mr Hull issued a warning that “armed aggrandisement, under modern conditions of warfare entails destructions for which no conceivable advantages secured by the conqueror can possibly provide compensation. A nation entering upon this course inflicts incalculable injury upon its own people and the world as a whole.” A warning was also issued by Mr Hull that the United States was prepared to defend and defend successfully its national interests. \“There is no controversy which cannot be settled, with greater benefit to all concerned by the peaceful process ot\ frieudly adjustment,” Mr Hull said. “When a nation makes a deliberate resort to armed force on,.any plea whatever, it uses war or the threat of war as an instrument of its policy of territorial expansion or domination of others. Such nations are the authors of war, the awful cost of which is paid by their own people and the rest of mankind.” He added that there was ample room on earth for the 2.000,000,000 people inhabiting it, but there was no room for a political organisation under, which a group of nations would enslave all others.

Mr Hull commented that the road to a peaceful adjustment of reasonable and legitimate grievances was still open, but as long as some nations continued .to. arm for conquest, all others must either surrender or arm for defence.

“Americans prefer peace negotiated before war rather than afterwards, and to such peace they will make an appropriate contribution. But ,if their hopes are disappointed, and the red flames of war, rather than the noonday sun of peace, illuminate our horizon we are equally prepared to defend successfully our national interests and., cherished institutions.”

Mr Roosevelt, addressing the convention earlier, emphasised the need to meet the great requirements of relief movements. He said: “In a world disturbed by war and fears of war, the unslfish devotion of the Red Cross to the welfare of others stands in striking contrast to the inhumane acts which have shocked our conscience. The task before us is enormous.” 1