The Timaru Herald MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1935. REASON RATHER THAN FORCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20066, 25 March 1935, Page 6

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1935. REASON RATHER THAN FORCE

It is interesting to learn from the cable messages coming from Washington this morning, on the authority of the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee that the United States is not interested in the question of whether the Hitler Government of Germany has violated the Versailles Treaty or not. Doubtless, Senator Pittman speaks for I himself, but it is plain that the decision of Germany to re arm, in spite of treaty obligations, and regardless of the protests of Europe, will change the face of the whole world unless wiser Counsels prevail. At the moment the United States is opposed to making a stand on the vital importance of the nations relying on reason rather than force for the settlement of international disputes. The later statement issued by the Secretary of State puts a much more enlightened complexion on the attitude of the United States. As a matter of fact the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, which for four years pigeon-holed protocols providing for American accession to the World Court signed by President Hoover, in January reported them to the Senate by a vote of 14 to 7. Early in February the Senate of the United States by a majority of 52 to 36, approved of the adherence of the United States to the World Court. The vote, however, was seven less than the two-thirds majority necessary to make the proposal effective. Some days later a straw vote conducted by The Literary Digest in con junction with the Association of College Editor's yielded a vote of 54,510 for and 55,689 against, on the question of the United States becoming a member of the League of Nations. The vote of the United States Senate on the American accession to the World Court, is the closest the American Government has come to joining any of the active agencies set up by the nations to adjust their differences by reason instead of force. The statement published this morning disclosing the attitude of the Senate Foreign Relations Affairs Committee may be regarded merely as a pronouncement on the question of violation or otherwise of the Treaty of Versailles, but no country, however remote from Europe can regard with unconcern the change in world outlook caused by Germany's rearmament policy. Moreover, the Government of the United States is not blind to the lessons of the World War which showed that no single great State of the world was able to keep out of the conflict, not even remote America. It is nevertheless encouraging to note that informally and individually Americans have proved their interest in support of peace machinery. Officially and collectively, they have, however, except for the vague Kellogg Pact and some dustgathering arbitration treaties, put their reliance on force. Even although the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent forward the World Court proposal for the consideration of the Senate, they attached a condition to American membership, which provided for reservations that would deny the Court to give an advisory opinion in any case in which the United States is a party. So many problems in which the destiny of civilisation may be involved, will come up for decision within the next few months, that the United States will be compelled as co partner with Great Britain and other free peoples who are guardians of enlightened and progressive society, to feel very much interested, if not gravely concerned for the safety of civilisation. As a matter of fact, well-informed opinion in the United States anticipates an eaidy completion of the step five Presidents have urged and that to most Americans seems a safe and meagre pledge of their country’s desire to associate themselves with other peace-loving people, in creating the machinery for the settlement of international disputes by reason instead of force.