AVOIDING WAR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 10

AVOIDING WAR

U.S.A. POLICY FIRM RECENT DEVELOPMENTS SYDNEY, April G. Dr. J. P. Moffat, Consul-Oeneral in Australia for the United States, speaking at the University yesterday on recent developments in American foreign policy, said that the American nation was attached to the preservation of peace, not only as an ideal, but also from motives of self-interest. Disillusioned by the results of war, the United States was determined not to be drawn into future conflicts, and was fully determined to mould its policies with a view to avoiding all causes of war. Dr. Moffat said that America's entry into the Great War had been a reversal of everything that Americans had regarded as axiomatic in foreign policy since the foundation of republic. For some years after having declined membership of the League .oi Nations, America had adopted an attitude of aloofness towards the Loague and all its works. But this phase had passed, and in the last 10 years there had evolved a system of co-operation between the American Government and the League. The phase of post-war co-operation in which tke United States had taken the greatest interest was disarmament. Such importance had America at tached to the Disarmament Conference at Geneva that four'times, when tho conference had been threatened with extinction, she Had taken the initiative by proposing new ways and means for reaching agreement. The paucity of the results from the Disarmament Conference had caused a rude disillusionment in America. It had signified to Americans that the old mentality of fear and rivalry, which had done so much to induce the last war, had not been displaced. After having appraised events, Americans had formed a determination not to bo drawn into another European war. To ensure this, Americans would have to determine, as a matter of national policy, how they could best help to avert war, and, if it should nevertheless break out. how best to steer their courso without becoming involved. There was complete unanimity on the point that America must not again be a source of supply for munitions to bolligerent nations. The National Munition's Control Board established last year, represented the conclusion of a movement to set up machinery which would enable tho Government to exercise adequate supervision and control over tho international traffic in arms. All manufacturers, exporters, and importers of implements of war were required to register with the Secretary of State and to obtain from him export and import licenses covering all international shipments oi arms.