The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-06-15
Our Attitude Is One of
Friendship for All Ma
tions and a Demand
for Equal Opportuni-
ties In All Legitimate
Enterprises - No En-
tangling ALI nc e S
Wanted.

Providence, r. L., June Is. -Secre-
tary of State Charles E. Hughes, told
a gathering of his fellow alumni of
Brown university today that it was
not desired that Americas helpful
influence should be frittered away
by relating ourselves unnecessarily
to political questions which involve
( riyalries of interest abroad with
which we have no proper concern.
ut is equally true" he continued,
THAT we cannot escape our relation
to-. the economic problems of the
world"
He said the prosperity of this
country largely depended upon the
economic settlements which might be
made in Europe and that the key to
the future was with those who may
control those settlements.
America, the examplar of free in
stitutions, aiding humanity in their
4 preservation, he said, called forth the
supreme epdeaVor in the world war
y This sentiment is still with u.s. he
added
1--WE have not lost" he said, 'the
capacity for the high and unselfish
endeavpr which linked us in an un-
exampled unity and joy of service in
the crisis of the great war The
springs of faith, of mutual trust, of
fellowship have not, dried up.
Why We Fought
Our men did not go forth to fight
for this nation as one of imper-
ialistic designs and cunning purpose
or to protect a land where avarice
might find it's surest reward. They
offered their lives and all the ener-
gies of the country were harnessed
I'm the supreme effort, because we
loved the institutions of liberty and
intended to maintain them, because we
hated tyranny and the brutality and
ruthlessness which found expression
in the worship of force, and because
we found our fate with that of free
peoples who were struggling for the
preservation of the essentials of free
dom. With them we made common
cause and as from one end of the
country to the other rang appeals in
the name of civilization itself, the
whole nation responded.
Friendship for All Nations
"It would not be fitting for me at
this time to discuss our foreign rela-
tions, but l am glad to say that the
message of America is one of cordial
friendship to all nations. We have no
subtilities, no duplicity of meanings,
no soft words to>conceal purpose of
self ACKNOWLEDGMENT at others eX-
pense The only method of diplom-
Z acy we know is that of candid dis
cussion of the merits of problems,
This, we think is the way to pros
per cause believed to be just and
we shall advance no other.
"The world is settling down, but
it is not yet settled. The counsel of
power and expediency still dominates,
as the serious problems left by the
great war press for solution. This
country seeks not reason for its
participation in the struggle that led
to victory nor do we wish any exclu-
\ sive advantages in the possessions
which as a result of the war have
passed under control We simply ask
that we shall not be excluded from
equal privileges wherever our inter
ests are affected. That seems tosus to
be reasonable position.
Equity Should Prevail
"This is time when it is vastly
important that the principle of equal
" LII lC6ANAAhoAC NAAOA
should be maintained, and in order to
! develop the natural essentials to the
progress and security of nations there
should be a fair and equal chance for
all. The frank recognition Of this
nrinciple will offer the basis of that
genuine cooperation of which we de
light to speak, and will diminish the
occasions for misunderstanding and
antagonism. 1t is believed that inter
national agreements may well be
made which will assure complete reci
procity with respect to opportunity in
the development of natural resources
throughout the world.
Il believe that our people are thor
oughly determined that we shall safe
guard our future by reserving inde
pendence Of action in such exigencies
as may arrise according to our con
ception of duty at the time"