Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-10

over a Nationwide network of
the Columbia Broadcasting System,
follows:
Under our Federal Constitution the
conduct of our foreign affairs is placed
in the hands of the President of the
United States. He receives foreign Am
bassadorS and Ministers. With the
advice and consent of the Senate he
has the power to make treaties and to
appoint American Ambassadors, Min
listers and consuls to foreign countries.
The Secretary of State Is the member
of the cabinet through whom the Presi-
dent carries out these functions. and
the Department of State and the for
elgn service are the agencies through
which the Secretary works. In Wash
::agton there are stationed some 50 for
eign Ambassadors, Ministers and
charges, with whom the Secretary is in
constant contact. In foreign countries
we maintain IS American embassies
and legations and 345 American con-
sulateS. The personnel over which the
State Department exercises supervision,
including the staff in Washington and
clerks and employees, numbers in all
over $500 persons. In this manner
and through these agencies the foreign
relations of the United States are con-
Quoted; its treaties, conventions and
other business negotiated. and its for
eign policy carried out. Though he sell
dom comes into direct contact with
them. these foreign relations of the
United States underlie the welfare of
every American citizen. Upon their
successful working depends the peace
full relations of this country with the
rest Of the world and the safe and
successful operation of American busi-
ness whenever it, or its connections,
venture outside the boundaries of this
country. During every year which
passes, with the new inventions of
science and the steady advance of the
methods of modern trade. business in
every portion of the world is being
knit more and more closely together
end made more and more interde-
pendent.
In the limits of my time this eve
ming 1t would be impossible and inap-
propriate to try to give you full sum-
mary of the work of the State Depart
rnent. Instead, I shall select some Of
the main purposes for which we have
been working and illustrate our work
by few examples,
Peace Is Main Function.
In the family of nations the main
tenance of peace Is the primary and
most important function of foreign
policy. And when he became Presi-
dent Mr.. Hoover rightly and wisely
placed his finger upon the competition
in armament which was going on be-
tween the nations of the world as the
chief obstacle to peace. With the ma
tons of the world spending, as they are
today, over five billions Of dollars an
nually in maintaining ornaments
chiefly in competition with each other,
and with such competition naturally
and almost inevitably breeding suspi-
<rta ad ,.act.IffY,ry
from such a situation is manifest In
any community, whether Of individuals
or nations, where each member is go
ing about seeking to get better weapon
than his neighbor and to have 1t in a
reader position for use, the chance for
permanent peace is small. In 1929
naval competition was the most serious
arms competition to us in America, as
well as the one in which our influence
for peace could be most readily eX-
erted. Although competition in bat
tlesllips had been ended seven years
before by the Washington Treaty, a
new competition in cruisers, destroyers
and submarines had grown up between
the principal naval powers and had be-
come an irritating and disturbing in
fuence. particularly between this coun-
try and Great Britain. Naval competi-
ton had thus become the key log in
the jam which blocked the progress of
the peace movement of the world I'M
mediately after his Inauguration Mr.
Hoover personally took up this subject,
ard his efforts resulted in the calling
of the London Naval Conference. which
a year later resulted in a treaty be-
tween America, Britain and Japan COM
pletely and effectively terminating
competition between these three largest
naval powers of the world. The wis
dom and effect Of this step was at once
manifest. Not only were the previously
irritated relations between this country
and Great Britain Immediately smoothed
out so that they have since been. more
cordial and harmonious than for many
years past. but as always happens in
these treaties, the example of limita-
ton between these three great powers
is steadily bringing pressure to bear
upon the rest of the world for a SIM
liar limitation. France and Italy, who
failed in the London Conference last
year. have been working ever since to
achieve similar agreement, and will.
as we hope and believe. eventually be
successful. A great stimulus has been
given TO the prospects for success of the
European conference on general dis
armament which is set for February of
next year The nations of Europe are
today busily engaged in endeavoring to
clear up and get out Of the way the
various controversies and political prob
lens which may ieopardize the success
Of that movement Attention has every
where been focused upon the necessity,
as we'll as the possibilities for good, of
the cause Of arms limitation.
Kellogg Pact Test Recalled.
When Mr.. Hoover came into ONCE
the Kellogg BRAND pact renouncing
war and undertaking thereafter the
settlement ofsail controversies solely by
peaceful means had just been agreed
to by over so nations. This pact for
its effectiveness depended solely upon
the public opinion of the world. Many
critics. therefore, said that the pact was
nothing better than a gesture and that
it never would become an effective in
ternational policy. Mr.. Hoover thought
differently and early in his administra-
ton Joined with Mr.. Macdonald, the
premier Of Great Britain, in historic
statement after the Rapidan Confer
ence, saying, on behalf OF the American
and British governments:
Both cur governments resolve to &C
cept the peace pact rot only as dec
1aration Of good intentions. but as a
positive obligation TO direct national
policy in accordance with its pledge"
A test of this view soon came in a
very difficult quarter, namely, Man
churia, in The shape of a controversy
between Russia and China, two Of the
signatories of the pact. These two ma
tons having become involved in dis
pute over the Chinese Eastern Railway,
come Of the military forces of Russia
crossed the Manchurian boundary and
attacked the forces of China The
State Department acted promptly to
mobilize the public opinion of the
TorId against such hoStilitjes. A mes
sage was sent by Our Government TO
each one Of the SIS nations who were