REQUEST TO ITALY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23435, 26 August 1939, Page 15

REQUEST TO ITALY

FORMULATE SCHEME GRIM SEQUEL TO WAR OPPRESSION AND REBELLION WASHINGTON, Atl*. 2« ]n his enrlier appeal to King Victor Emmanuel of Itnly to use his good offices to avert war. Mr. Roosevelt said: "The United Stales accepts as a fact that all nations have an absolute right to maintain their national independence if they so desire. If that be a sound doctrine, then it must apply to the weaker nations as well as to the stronger. "If the idea of the independence of all nations is accepted this will mean peace, because: the fear of aggression will end. The alternative, which means of necessity efforts; by the strong to dominate the weak, will lead not only to war, but also to lony future years of oppression on tire part of tho victor and to rebellion cm the part of tlio* vanquished, "Were it possible for Your Majesty's Government to formulate proposals for a pacific solution of the present crisis along these lines (peaceful conversations to consider political and territorial problems) you are assured of the earnest sympathy of the United States. The Governments of Italy and the United States can to-day advance those ideals of Christianity which of late seem so often to have been obscured."