The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1937 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S PLAIN WARNING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20852, 7 October 1937, Page 6

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1937 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S PLAIN WARNING.

President Roosevelt’s warning to the people of the United States that they may be attacked if international anarchy were not checked and his outspoken condemnation of “nations that are claiming freedom for themselves and denying it to others,” represents the most outspoken pronouncement that has been uttered by the head of the Washington Administration for many a day. It is interesting to note in passing that The Boston Herald suggests that “Woodrow Wilson’s mantle lay on President Roosevelt as he spoke.” But it remains to be said that even if President Roosevelt finds himself confronted by the same division among his people as hampered President Woodrow Wilson when facing the increasing activities of the aggressor, he has not hesitated to give an inspired lead to peace-loving humanity. President Roosevelt is, of course, not blind to the menace to the peace of the world that reposes not only ip the activities of the nations involved in wars in China and Spain, but in the campaign of intrigue the totalitarian states are conducting against all democratic States: A concerted effort by peace-loving peoples to maintain justice throughout the world is advocated by the President. He likened world lawlessness to an epidemic of disease, and suggested the “quarantine” of the offending nations to prevent its spread, causing conjecture as to whether the Administration would join in the method of sanctions against aggressor nations. The President added: "Without a declaration of war, and without warning or justification, civilians, including women and children, are ruthlessly being murdered from the air by bombs, and submarines are attacking and sinking ships without cause or notice.” The President’s appeal is not addressed merely to the people of the United States; indeed, while insisting rather significantly that it is impossible for any nation completely to isolate itself from the economic and political upheavals in the rest of the world, the President reminds the war-makers that the overwhelming majority of peoples desire to live pacific lives, and this 90 per cent, of the population of the world would not be satisfied to see their future jeopardised by the remaining 10 per cent., who are threatening the breakdown of all international law and order. The problem then confronting the world, as President Roosevelt suggests, is how can the peaceloving peoples of the world make their will prevail? It is because the President seeks orderly and sober progress that he has issued his appeal for'“a concerted action by peace-loving people to maintain justice throughout the world”—an appeal which already has had remarkably favourable reactions in democratic countries. DOES GERMANY NEED MORE BUTTER? Because of the Nazi determination to pursue a policy of economic and financial self-sufficiency, the making of trade agreements with Germany, on the barter system as proposed by the Minister of Finance and endorsed by the House of Representatives yesterday ought to have been approached with the utmost caution: “It does not matter how much the Government’s proposals are wrapped up in words,” declared Mr Coates, in discussing the agreement, “the fact remains that the Minister has made an agreement which involves nothing more nor less than a matter of bulk barter. We are to sell goods in Germany but we have no option but to receive payment in German goods. If we have to take those goods from Germany we win not be in a position to take as much from Great Britain, which still provides us with our principal market” The Government, on its part insists that the agreement will not injure the secondary industries of New Zealand, and that agreements on the lines proposed are welcomed by the Imperial Government. The scope of the agreement, however, may inflict injury on the very industry it is designed to benefit. Hitherto New Zealand trade with Germany has been conducted on the customary businesslike lines, with adequate fiscal protection against substantial increases that would damage the New Zealand market for British goods. But under the new agreement, so long as Germany purchases big lots of bulk butter and still more bulk butter, New Zealand will be compelled to take German goods in exchange. The fundamental danger in the agreement is that Germany may have some sinister plan in her mind that would not benefit the dairymen of New Zealand; indeed, what guarantee has been given that Germany intends to purchase New Zealand butter for consumption by her people. As a matter of fact, the Nazi propagandists advocate a decreasing consumption of butter in the interests of economic self-sufficiency. In other words, Germany may utilise New Zealand butter, not to feed her people, but to dump into other countries because she is in sore need of exchange for the purchase of raw materials required for the manufacture of arms. Indirectly then, New Zealand, who would be compelled to take German goods in return for New Zealand butter, would really be assisting Germany to solve one of the most difficult problems new confronting the leaders of the Nazis. We refer, of course, to the creation of foreign exchange in countries that could supply Germany with raw material required for armament purposes, if only Germany can provide the necessary exchange. Has not Germany said she prefers guns to butter? Moreover, it is known that the sale of Danish butter in Germany has periodically had the effect of diverting this butter from the markets of the United Kingdom and thus indirectly helping to harden up the price of the New Zealand product. If New Zealand supplies the German market with butter, more Danish butter will be available for the markets iu the United Kingdom, with the consequent weakening of the Home market for all butter entering the market from overseas. INDEPENDENCE OF TRANSPORT AUTHORITY. Because we can take it that the Minister of Transport is sincere in his frequent assertion that the main object of his policy is the creation of a more efficient national transport service, he will no doubt give his whole-hearted support to the No. 3 Transport Licensing Authority, in the refusal it has made to uphold the protest of the Railway Department against the application of a road transport company for permission to lower its fares. The Railway Department urged that the distinct affected was already “adequately served” by the railways, and that the Government had decided that “our railway fares are reasonable.” The Transport Authority, unlike other like administrators of the new transport policy, thought and decided otherwise, and with commendable independence made it plain that the case for the transport company would be accepted because it had been shown that an amalgamation of services had made possible the lowering of fares. The rection of the Ministers involved in this display of independence is awaited with keen interest.