GREAT ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23218, 12 December 1938, Page 11

GREAT ISSUE

: MENACING FORCES AMEKICAN KEPUBLICS DEFENCE BLOC TJEGED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 11, 0.30 p.m.) LIMA (PERU), Dec. 10 "It is within th.e power of the American nations to furnish a conclusive demoristration that peace is unquestionably feasible," declared Mr. Cordell Hull (United States), calling on the 21 North, Central and South American republics for military and political co-operation for defence against foreign ideologies, at the opening of the Pan-American conference. "Recently powerful forces in some parts of the world have challenged the validity of the primary basic principles upon which we and the rest of mankind have been building the edifice of our social organisation and international life," said Mr. Hull. "Whatever may be the outer garments they wear, these forces are fundamentally the same that for centuries held men in bodily slavery and spiritual degradation, and impressed upon the relations between nations a state of anarchy or reliance upon armed force. Freedom or Serfdom "Mankind is tragically again confronted by the alternatives of freedom or serfdom, order or anarchy, Let there be no illusion: the alternatives are real and concrele not only in the portions of the world in the immediate vicinity of the countries in which these rosurgent forces find organised expression, but their ominous shadow falls athwart our own hemisphere." Mr. Hull uttered a warning that while all desired to live in peace, there must not be a shadow of doubt that the American nations were determined not to permit the invasion of the western hemisphere by armed forces or the dissemination of doctrines undermining the established institutions of government or the basic social order. Nations Must Decide "Each nation must decide for itself what measures to take in order to meet its share of the common interest and responsibility," Mr. Hull continued. "Let no one doubt for a moment that the United States Will maintain adequate defence for the American Republics, with the co-operation of some nations in the other hemisphere, faithfully carrying forward the principles underlying world order, peace and economic restoration. The' success of this programme is indispensable to the progress of the human race. Every nation has a sincere, standing invitation to join in.

"It would be an unspeakable calamity if any at this critical time should further pursue a course of force or military aggression. Here is presented the greatest single issue confronting all j>eaceful nations. We shall not lose sight of it for a moment as we grapple with questions peculiar to our hemisphere. Official Attitude ''Wo must not end this conference," concluded Mr. Hull, "without providing a renewed basis of'hope'for other nations Which, at times against great odds and in the face of heartbreaking difficulties, are working for a better world." The President of Peru, General Dor. Oscar Benavides, in his address in opening the conference, said: "The attitude of the American Republics at this stage of world affairs is one of collaboration, not rebuke, and help, not reproach." This keynote reflected what is likely to bo the official attitude, since Mr. Hull and other influential leaders are anxious not to sound any note hostile to Europe. General Benavides warned North and South America that they must strengthen themselves in order to bo respected, but must not foster in political, economic or spiritual life "continent imperialism."