FOREIGN POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22499, 17 August 1936, Page 10

FOREIGN POLICY

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT NOTICE TO EUROPE NEUTRALITY AT ALL COSTS NATION DESIRES PEACE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received August 3(5. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 15 Considerable political significance, both national and international, is attached by observers in Washington to a speech President Roosevelt delivered at Chautauquay, New York, last evening. Speaking before 25,000 members of the cultural group known as the Chautauquay, the President again outlined in detail his foreign policy. This is taken, both as further liotico to Europe that America is prepared to maintain lior neutrality at all costs, and as a plea to the American people to uphold his foreign policy at the November elections. Reiterating his "good neighbour" policy, Sir. Roosevelt vigorously denounced "those nations which raise a threat of war by violating with impunity their treaties and pledges."

In perhaps the strongest statement on neutrality yet made, the President Baid: "If we face the choico between profits or DParn, thn nation will answer —must answer —'We choose peace.' " While emphasising the nation's peaceful intent, Mr. Boosevelt Called attention to the large defence programme the administration is undertaking. Ho added: "We are constantly prepared to defend ourselves and our neighbourhood."

This is taken as a reference to the Pan-American Conference which, under Mr-. Roosevelt's initiative, lias been called for Buenos Aires on December 1 for the purpose of negotiating an ail-American peace pact.