PEACE AND JUSTICE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21184, 3 November 1938, Page 7

PEACE AND JUSTICE

AMERICAN ATTITUDE IN CRISIS Basis of Humanity’s Happiness Solution of Problems in Trade World At The Crossroads United Press Association—By £!*■«*»* Telegraph—Copyright NEW YORK, November 1. A view that the United States has a responsibility to exert her maximum influence to help mankind to find peace and justice was expressed by the Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) when addressing the National and Foreign Trade Convention. He declared that the world is at the cross-roads, but its power of choice is not yet lost. “One of the roads,” he said, “is increased reliance upon armed force as an instrument of national policy, and so long as the construction of armaments for such purpose continues to be the centre of national effort in some countries, the policy of arming inescapably becomes a universal evil “The other road is ever-increasing reliance upon peaceful processes and upon the rule of law and order in the relations between Individuals and among nations, as trust in the pledged word and order under law replace the doctrine of armed force and the practice of lawlessness. “We in America are less immediately affected than most other nations by the tensions prevailing in other parts of the world, but it is undoubtedly our duty to ourselves to render the adequate armed forces which are needed for our security. It is equally our duty to ourselves not to relax one whit our efforts to exert our maximum influence towards helping mankind to choose the road to peace and justice rather than the road to war. Importance of Trade “It is my considered judgment that nothing which occurred in recent weeks discredited in any way the principles, or the basis, on which we are seeking to bring about the restoration of sound economic conditions as the foundation of durable. The drift toward complete national self-sufficiency is far from making ready headway while excessive trade barriers continue and weigh heavily upon international commerce. The major part of the world trade is still carried on by countries which are not attempting to be self-contained regardless of the cost. As experience accumulates it becomes increasingly clear that the trade methods of those few countries who proclaim autarchy as their avowed purpose, steadily exhaust the countries which practise them and arouse even more intense resistance and retaliation on the part of others. American Programme “The programme which we advocate offers the only practical alternative to the drift towards the anarchy of economic warfare. Its workability has been demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt, and it can be embraced by all nations to the benefit of each and all. Our own best interests, and the concern which all must feel for the future of the human race. Imperatively require that so far from abandoning our trade agreements programme, we should put redoubled vigour into our efforts to enlarge its scope and effectiveness. We should intensify our endeavours to influence all nations by example and every appropriate means of persuasion open to us to return to a tested basis of healthy and sound trade, monetary stability and financial probity. No nation can escape its share of the responsibility for fashioning mankind’s choice of the road which the world will follow.” IMPORTANCE OF TRADE RELATIONS ANGLO-AMERICAN NEGOTIATIONS United Press Association—By Esctne Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 2, 6.30 pm.) LONDON, November 1. In the House of Commons debate, Mr Oliver Stanley (president of the Board of Trade) referred to the Anglo-Ameri-can trade treaty. He said that a treaty which largely increased the disparity of the trade balance, would only make matters worse. He desired a treaty giving advantages to both sides and biased towards none. The debate was adjourned.