“UTILISE DESIRE FOR PEACE”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21179, 28 October 1938, Page 9

“UTILISE DESIRE FOR PEACE”

INCISIVE ATTACKS ON DICTATORS Appeal by President Roosevelt Powerful Defence of Democracy Ex-President Denounces Statement Onited Pr«B Association—B? Bllertrle Telecraoh Cop vrlaht (Received October 27, 8.40 p in.) WASHINGTON, October 26. President Roosevelt in a radio address said: "None who lived through the grave hours last month can doubt the longing of most peoples in the world for enduring peace. Our business now is to utilise the desire for peace to build on the principles, which are the only basis of permanent peace. There can be no peace if the reign of law is to be replaced by the recurrent sanctification of sheer force. There can be no peace if the national policy adopts, as a deliberate Instrument, the threat of war or the dispersion over the world of millions of helpless and persecuted wanderers, without a place to lay their heads. There can be no peace if humble men and women are not free to think their own thoughts, express their own feelings, worship God, or if the economic resources that ought to be devoted to social and economic reconstruction are diverted towards intensified competition in armaments.” National Responsibility “At no time in modern history,” said the President, “has the responsibility which rests upon the Government been more obvious or more profound. I speak for the United States, which has no interest in war. We covet nothing save good relations with our neighbours, and we recognise that the world to-day has become our neighbour. But in the principle, of this policy, there must be a deliberate conscious will that such political changes as changing needs require, shall be made peacefully. You cannot organise civilisation around a core of militarism, and at the same time expect reason to control human destinies. The United States, for more than twelve years, has been steadily seeking disarmament, yet we have consistently pointed out that neither we nor any nation will accept disarmament while neighbour nations arm to the teeth. “Will Continue to Arm” “If there is no general disarmament,” continued Mr Roosevelt, "we ourselves must continue to arm, for we must be prepared. We still insist that an armament race among the nations is absurd, unless new territories or new controls are coveted. We, in the United States, do not seek to impose on any other people, either our way of life or our internal form of Government, but wo are determined to maintain and protect that way of life and that form of Government for ourselves. We affirm our faith that whatever the choice of the way of life a people makes, that choice must not threaten the world with the disaster of war which releases the floodtide of evil emotions. In all that I have said to you, I have reaffirmed the faith of the American people in democracy.” President Roosevelt concluded with an appeal for greater unity among the nations for peace, restraint, for negotiation and community effort. By working for the same ideals within their own borders, the people of the United States would have that unity of will, with which alone democracy could successfully meet its enemies.

REACTION IN UNITED STATES AIMED AT DICTATOR STATES CRITICISM AND PRAISE Coiled Press Association —By Electric Telegraph —Copvrtght (Received October 27, 10.50 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 27. Washington opinion states that the President’s sharp phrases were aimed obviously at Italy end Germany, and were practically certain to draw harsh criticism from the totalitarian press, if not from official quarters. Ex-President’s Attack Interestingly enough the President’s observations drew criticism almost immediately from an Important domestic souice, notably ex-Presldent Hoover, who insisted that the method and manners of dictatorships ’..'are no concern of America. He warned the President that if the United Elates went to war, it would be necessai. to mobilise the nation “into practically a Fascist Government." He insisted that the democracies must reconcile themselves to the fact that despotisms have always existed, and will continue to exist.

Mr Hoover minimised the danger of totalitarian aggression against the western hemisphere, and demanded that before military expenditures are expanded, “we should state frankly what dangers have so increased, that warrant it.”

President Roosevelt’s speech is widely Interpreted r.» America’s definitive foreign policy. It contained striking similarities, through phraseology to Lord Halifax's address, and is considered a refinement of the qualification of his notable "quarantine” pronouncement two years ago. The President at me stage, not only condemned the use cf r. threat of force, repression and propagandising, as instruments of national policy, but he showed plain resentment of the derisory observations frequently made by these dictatorships concerning demo-

cracies. He stressed the United States’ intention to stop by force, if necessary, the introduction of these methods ; manners either by propaganda or otherwise Lite the western hemisphere. Reaction in London It is felt that the President restated the quarantine principle. This time, however, stressing the United States’ intention to act alone and exclusively in the western hemisphere. Reports from London that whether or not the similarities between thp speeches of Lord Halifax and President Roosevelt were intentional, the President s stand was certain to receivi unqualified support in British Government circles, were received with satisfaction In Washington.