ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 16

ROOSEVELT’S SPEECH

THINKING AHEAD. V NEW YORK, Aug. 21. President Roosevelt’s speech promising United States aid to Canada if the Dominion is ever attacked by a foreign Power has been received with more immediate interest abroad than at home. Here, stress is laid less on what President Roosevelt said than on the time chosen to make such an emphatic declaration. It must be realised by people abroad that, in the last resort, it is Congress and not the President, that decides foreign policy. Everyone will recall how grievously President Wilson learned this lesson when he sought to bring the United States into the League of Nations. President Roosevelt, supported by his Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) may be described as being engaged in busily educating Americans to the prospect that they must pliy their part in world affairs should war break out in Europe. Last winter everyone here was saying that, whatever happened across tho Atlantic, the United States must keep out of trouble.

President Roosevelt has never concurred with that theory, realising that, even should this nation refrain from actual participation in war, her trade would be vitally affected by it. “NORTH AMERICAN POLICY.” His speech in Canada is being interpreted hero as supplementing Mr Cordell Hull’s earlier wireless address, in which he defined the United States role in international affairs as one persuasion to peace. The two speeches are regarded'as an effort by the American Government to avert war in Europe by a timely warning that the influence of the United States will be thrown against aggressors. Without mentioning names. President Roosevelt clearly indicated which Powers he regards as deserving that description.

President Roosevelt is undoubtedly thinkim- ahead of his countrymen. He is not an isolationist, and when lie speaks he likes to be more definite than bis cautious Secretary of State. But bis statement, to Canada is'a gesture safely made, because there is no near prospect that the Dominion shores will be invaded by an enemy. In Canada, responsible opinion regards bis speech as supporting the pursuit by the Prime Minister (Mr MaeKcnzie King) of a North American policy. It is pointed out that French Canadians interpreted Canada’s armament programme as designed to aid Britain should that nation become involved in war. Now it is said that tho Prime Minister can describe it as “Canada’s contribution to North American defence.” MOST EFFECTIVE ALLIANCE.

The U.S. Administration’s strongest wish at the present time is to conclude a trade treaty with the United Kingdom, which, it is felt, would ho the most effective “alliance” that the two people could make. It would involve no promise of fighting in a joint cause —a proposal against which the American people would certainly rebel if President Roosevelt were to suggest such a policy. But a trade agreement between the two nations would be an indirect link of the utmost value in furthering Mr Cordell Hull’s policy of strengthening peace between all the peoples by the bonds of trade.

It can be said that the State Department is more optimistic regarding the signing of a treaty than it ivas a couple of months ago. No date, however, has been suggested for signature. All that Mr Cordell Hull will say, in response to the daily questions, is: “The treaty is proceeding satisfactorily.” Should the treaty merely prove to have saved the face of the Administration, such a conclusion to the protracted negotiations would be as disastrous to Mr Cordell Hull’s long-pursued policy as a failure to sign any agreement.