The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-08-09


Secretary Of State Henry L. stimson, at critical
time in world affairs has underlined effective
American peace policy. In mis- address Monday night
he reaffirmed the Hoover-stimson doctrine Of non
recognition of territory and agreements achieved by
arms.
That doctrine, in judgment, is the most impor-
tant international step taken by the United States
since the World war
There was nothing academic about the stimson
pronouncement. 1t was timed to meet two imme
date crises.
In the far east, Japan is resumng her conquest of
China major war in Manchuria threatens to
draw in Russia and anything that touches Russia
Jars Europe
Such a war could not be isolated. 1t is our affair
1t Is the of every peaceful nation which has
learned from experience how easily and quickly
local war can become world war
So Stimson repeats, for Japans benefit the doc
trine which he laid down to her last January-that
the United States will not recognize any territory
seized by her puppet state operated by her armies
any agreements wrung from China with bayonets.
But this doctrine has meaning than last
winter. 1t no longer is merely American policy;
in March it was accepted by the League of Nations
And within week it has been made the policy of
Latin America WELL through the joint declaration
quay under the Chaco war threat
AS background for stressng this new doctrine the
secretary of state discussed the BRAND Kellogg pact
We would not belittle that treaty This newspaper
fought hard for its ratification. Without that anti
war pact probably the road to the later Hoover
Stimson doctrine would have been longer
But there was one serious fault with the Kellogg
treaty we pointed out at the time. 1t only
expression of good intentions. And the good inten-
tons in that promise to outlaw furnished
by the increase in preparedness by virtually all
signatores of the anti-war treaty
1t a gesture valuable GESTURE but neffec-
tive standing alone.
The Kellogg pact needed teeth. 1t needed def
mite commitment pledgng the United States and
other signers to do something about it's violation
The -Stimson doctrine is that definite commit
ment
1t not only outlaws war theoretically 1t outlaws
the actual fruits of war
Thus the Hoover-Stimson doctrine is not so much
a peace doctrine a method to enforce peace It
would all the and diplomatic force of neu-
trails against war-makng nation
True, it does not specifically provide for use of
military or even economic force against an aggressor
Obviously, however, it opens the way for economic
force in cases where necessary No nation which has
peen ouCaWeo by the neutral world automatically
can obtain easily the foreign commerce and credits
essential to success in a major war.
In the long run, the use of such moral diplomatic
and economic weapons to enforce peace is apt to be
more effective than foreign guns which seem to endow
the outlaw with martyrdom at home
Only one thing crippes the Hoover stimson doc
uine Fortunately, that is only temporary 1t is
the Hooyer-stmson Russian policy To 60 on out
having Russia, who keeps the peace is to nulfy the
Kellogg pact and the Hoover Stimson doctrine
The contradiction is more than theoretic IT. is
the most dangerously practical issue planted in the
Tar eastern dynamite Without Russian cooperation.
any international peace action in Manchuria invites
failure Russia has been cooperating for peace as
best she can under the handicap of our contradic-
tory nonrecogntion policy but the handicap has been
too much
In the name of the great Hoover-stmson doctrine
and of world peace-even if does not care about the
billions of dollars worth of Russian trade-we hone
the administration will resume relations with Russia
soon.