Evening star., 1932-11-07
TEXT OF HOOVER'S ADDRESS in SALT LAKE CITY
Ideals and Preserved Throughout Economic President Tells
Mountain Crowd.

dozen different pleas that are made to
persuade men to risk their lives upon
the issues of war. Some had been called
to resist a hateful philosophy Of gov
ernment: some had been called to pre-
serve their national existence: some had
been called to guarantee with their
blood a theory of their country's eco
Eomic interest
Now 1 would be the last man in the
world to say that war is never justified.
Many men of my own family have
borne arms. I, myself, in the course of
the World War repeatedly stated that l
was prepared to serve my country in
any capacity from that of laborer to
/ that of soldier in the front line trenches.
, There are issues which it is right that
men, if need be, should sacrifice their
lives to defend them.
| DeplOres Toll of War.
Nevertheless, l had at that time four
years of unique personal observation of
the horrors of war, four years Of study
of its causes, and after the Armistice l
had another year in endeavor to stem
the tide of famine and re-eStabllsh eco
nomic life in Europe l then had an
ether eight years of intimate study OF
.
the foreign commerce Of our country.
And l have grappled daily. in my last
three and one-half years as President
in the most responsible office of govern
ment in the world, with the fearful
aftermathS which have overwhelmed the
world. All these experiences have i'm
pressed on my mind with lneradicable
VividneSS the colossal errors OF war as
an instrument of national policy. l
have learned the futility of war as an
instrument of national policy; l have
learned the futility of war as solvent
of great human problems. and / have
perceived the fearful toll war takes OF
the generations succeeding the one
which fought the battles.
Indelibly impressed upon my deepest
emotions is the profound conviction
that the very first of all problems
pressing upon the human race is the
problem of prevention of future wars.
The greatest safety of the world from
| these crises We are now passing IS
to prevent war I see this, not only
in its terms of crushing economic bur-
dens, not only in its fearful disorgani-
zation and dislocation of economic life
for years to come; not only in its
crushing burden Of taxation for gen
. erationS innocent of responsibility: l
see it far more intensely as supreme
human problem.
Sees Youth Sacrificed.
see in wars the loss of the glorious
young manhood of the world, who. but
for wars slaughter, would lead the
bright columns of human hope and
human idealism and human progress
to levels far above the past l see
wars in terms of women widowed or
unwed, with fond hopes blasted OF
homes and of children. l see wars
most lamentable casualties in homes
wrecked and in homes that never even
had their chance of being. l see wars
in terms of children, born into lives
foredoomed to ignorance and the toll
that dwarfs both mind and spirit. l
see wars fatal poison subtly invading
the moral ideals of the people. bringing
grosSneSS and cynicism where should
grow the fine flower Of idealism. The
world has seen enough Of postwar
peace that is not peace, but rather
smolders of racial hatred.
For these reasons it has been major
purpose through all of my adminlstra-
ton to guide the foreign policy of this
Nation so as to maintain our traditional
peace with amity with all nations. But
of even more importance, have sought
to do everything in my power to place
the full weight of the moral strength
of the American people behind every
agency, existing or that can be devised,
which has for its purpose the upbulld-
ing of the spirit of peace in the world
and the maintenance of peace among
the nations l have made but one res
ervation, and that is we will join no
movement that proposes to use military
or economic force in its attempt to
prevent war. For that is contradic-
ton of method.
Peace Progress Reviewed.
And there has been real accomplish
ment in this direction by our country
in this three and half years. Through
strengthening of the Kellogg pact, be-
yond even the scope visioned by its
great proponent, we have accomplished
its acceptance by the entire world as
an effective agency through which the
moral influence of the world can be,
and more than once has been, effective
ly mobilized for the preservation of
peace. Its force is the force of mobi-
lized public opinion of the world. That
is the greatest force which the world
can command. We have sought and
secured large measure of disarma-
ment. We are today placing our every
influence to secure further disarma-
ment.
If time permitted, I could enumerate
a score of other measures and policies
and individual cases in which the
United States Government. represent
ing the passion of our people for world
peace, has been able to advance that
cause by practical and effective action.
And if it shall be the will of this
nation that for another four years I
tn iy,
OF their purposes. they may be as
sured. both by the pledge of past en-
deavor and my solemn pledge for fu-
ture endeavor, and by the further
knowledge of my personal conviction
and deep emotion on this subject, that
then for yet another four years this
nation shall continue to advance in
leadership toward the precious goal of
worldwide and enduring peace.