WORLD PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21494, 18 May 1933, Page 9

WORLD PEACE

'VIGOROUS APPEAL " * MESSAGE TO RULERS - MR. ROOSEVELT'S PLAN BAN ON AGGRESSION ECONOMIC RECOVERY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 16 'A message from Washington states that President Roosevelt to-day appealed directly to the rulers of the nations to reduce armaments, to eliminate entirely weapons of aggression, to refrain from sending any armed force whatsoever beyond their own borders, to forget "petty" national aims and to join together sincerely to assure the peace and economic recovery of the world. In a plain-spoken message, the President asked for specific steps in these directions to be taken immediately and declared that if any nation interposed obstructions, the civilised world would "know where the responsibility for failure lies." Mr. "Roosevelt mentioned no nation by name,/but his words rang through the diplomatic world with dramatic significance at a moment when certain leaders ,in Germany arc asking for greater armaments and when Japanese troops are marching deeper into China. British Arms Convention Supported As an intermediate goal, the President asked for success for the Geneva Arms Conference and for the pending World Economic Conference. He proposed at Geneva the adoption of the plan submitted by the British Prime Minister, ( Mr. Mac Donald, to redupo the armaments of France, stabilise those of Germany, and set up a consultative pact to promote peace. Mr. Roosevelt suggested an agreement upon the time and place cf a later conference to carry these steps btill further.

The message, contrary to long-stand-ing diplomatic practice, was addressed directly to Kings, Potentates and Presidentp of all the 54 nations to be represented at the World Economic Conference in London, including Russia. Economics and Disarmament The President said: "The economic conference must come to its conclusions quickly,. The world cannot await deliberations long delayed. The conference must establish order in placo of the present chaos by stabilisation of currencies, by freeing the flow of world trade and by international action to raise price levels. "In short, the conference must supplement individual domestic programmes for economic recovery* by wise, considered, international action.

"As for the Disarmament Conference, confused purposes still clash dangerously, and duty lies in bringing practical -Tcsults through concerted action. I believe an overwhelming majority of people feel obliged, to retain excessive armaments, because they fear some act of aggression against them, and not because they themselves seek to be aggressors. There is justification for this fear.

"Modern weapons of offence are vastly stronger than modern weapons of defence. If all the nations agree wholly to eliminate weapons which make possible successful attack, defences automatically will become impregnable and the frontiers and independence of every nation will become secure. Non-aggression Pact Urged " The ultimate objective of the Disarmament Conference must be the complete elimination of all offensive weapons. The immediate objective is a, substantial reducticsn of some of these weapons, and the elimination of many others. „ "The United States Government welcomes the measures now proposed and will exert its influence toward further successive steps toward disarmament. , , , "There are three steps to be agreed ■upon in the present discussions, namely: (1) To take at once the first definite step as broadly outlined m Mr. Mac Donald's plan. (2) lo agree upon the time and procedure for taking following steps. (3) To agree that while the first and following steps are being taken, no nation shall increase its existing armaments beyond the limitations of its treaty obligations. "But the peace of the world must be assured during the whole period of disarmament. Therefore I propose a fourth step, to be concurrent with the fulfilment of these three proposals, and subject to existing treaty rights, namely, that all the nations of the world should enter into a solemn, definite pact of non-aggression that thev should solemnly reaffirm the obligations they have assumed to limit and reduce armaments, and, pro\ idc'l that these obligations are faithfully executed, that they should agree that they will send no armed force across •their frontiers."

Nations Asked to Assure Peace The President * finally urges all nations to translate their professed policies into action. The text of Mr. Roosevelt s message became available in London late evening, and, although the hour of its arrival precluded any official Br comment to-night, no doubt can x that the spirit of the statement meet with the warmest approval. ' The proposals will be studied wi penuinc desire to co-operate • in obtaining a fulfilment of the dent's hope that' peace may e ,/ surcd through practical measures o armament and that all the nations carry to victory their common struggle figainst economic chaos. a EFFECT IN ITALY HOPE FOR DISARMAMENT LIFE-LINE TO CONFERENCE HOME, May 16 Mr. Roosevelt's appeal has electrified Italy, where pessimism was widespread, because it throws a life-line to the Disarmament Conference, which it will bo difficult now for any country to take the responsibility of wrecking. It will not be Italy's fault if the conference fails. JUDICIOUSLY TIMED - * LEAD TO HERR HITLER PARIS. May 1G President Roosevelt's message is regarded as judiciously timed to give a to Herr Hitler, whom Rome also possibly is prompting to be prudent.