PLEA FOR PEACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 97, 27 April 1939, Page 7

PLEA FOR PEACE

AWFUL COST OF WAR SPEECH BY MR. CORDELL HULL

(By Telegraph- Press Association—Copyright) Received April 26, 11.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 26. The Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, to-night addressed the national convention of the Red Cross in terms which were at once a plea for peace and a warning that war would inevitably react disastrously upon the aggressors. Unusual significance attached to the speech, although no nations or statesmen were named, because it was delivered almost on the eve of Herr Hitler's reply to Mr. Roosevelt's peace plea. Mr. Hull issued the warning I hat "armed aggrandisement under modern conditions of warfare entails destructions for which no conceivable advantages secured by the conquerer can possibly provide compensation. The nation entering upon this course inflicts incalculable injury upon its own people and the world as a whole." The warning was also issued by Mr. Hull that the United States was prepared to defend, and defend successfully, its national interests. Stating that there was no controversy which canont be settled with greater benefit to all concerned by the peaceful processes of friendly adjustment, Mr. Hull said: "When a nation makes a deliberate resort to armed force on any plea whatever, it uses war, or the threat of war, as an instrument of policy, of territorial expansion or domination of others. Such nations are the authors of war, the awful cost of which is paid by their own people and the rest of mankind.” He added that there was ample room on earth for the two billion people inhabiting it, but no room for a political organisation under which a group of nations would enslave all others. Mr. Hull commented that the road to the peaceful adjustment of reasonable and legitimate grievances was still open, but as long as some nations continued to arm for the conquest of all. the others must either surrender or arm for defence.