PEACE APPEAL

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 7

PEACE APPEAL

MR ROOSEVELT’S PLEA GENERAL ENDORSEMENT CRITICISM OF DICTATORS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, April 17 Sixteen Soutji American Republics and Canada to-night endorsed President Roosevelt’s peace appeal to Italy I and Germany. it is also learned authoritatively that independent European countries -which are more or less : threatened by aggression have informed the President of their support- | The messages from the latter coun- i_ tries were not made public in order not to- embarrass them. The wide- ' spread impression that the plea puts i the dictators “on the spot” is re- | fleeted in the declaration of the j President of Panama, Dr- Juan Arose- i mena, that “only minds set against the j interests of peace can formulate objections to it.” Many Broken Promises The New York Times, anticipating the rejection of the appeal by Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini, comments that President Roosevelt’s initiative cannot properly be regarded as having failed if it merely failed to achieve something that was unachievable. “The dictators’ record Is too full of broken promises for a pledge to keep the peace by either of them to alter the fundamentals of the present position,” says the paper. “There is a more realistic standard j by which to judge the results of the ; President’s iniiiative. He sought to identify unmistakably the aggressors in the advance to war and to rally ; world opinion on the side of victims ! of aggression. “He accomplished 'both purposes. Moreover, he may have made the outbreak of war less likely through his warning to the dictators that the risks involved are greater than they may assume. They are greater because the victims of German and Italian aggression can count on at least immense moral support everywhere throughout the world.” Indictment of Dictators The New York Herald-Trbiune comments: “It was no accident that the President's message was so worded that, if not accepted as its face value by the dictators, it will stand as an indictment of their policy, as a powerful act of diplomatic policy backed up by the Fleet’s recall to the Pacific, and British and French coalition; as a warning to the axis Powers, and so as a practical contribution to the prolongation of peace by the only method (power politics) which the axis Powers have admitted to have validity. I “It may not succeed. It involves I the certain though minimal risk of j further American entanglement, but the maintenance of peace to-day is a ■ matter of such importance to the J United,States —as to the rest of the I world—that some risks seem to be • plainly justified.” j President Roosevelt was at his desk at the White House, Washington, throughout Sunday. VICTORY PARADE POSTPONED TO MAY 15 (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) BURGOS, April 18 It Is announced that General Franco has postponed the Madrid victory parade to May 15, the city’s patron saint day. In the meantime, parades will be held at Seville, Valencia and Burgos.