The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-02-03
ROOSEVELT IS
 NOT IN FAVOR
 OF THE LEAGUE
Twenty Years Ago He Did Support the Views of President WilsOn-Cir= cumstances Different Now

Albany, N. Y., Feb 3.-(UP)- Governor Franklin ID. Roosevelt has joined the ranks of those who opposed both American member ship in the league of nations and cancellation of World War debts.
 The New York governor, who heretofore has said he was too busy with state affairs to concern him self with national and international affairs. offered his declamations on the league and war debts in an ad- dress before New York state farm CTS, members of the New To! k State Grange.
 His action followed by a few days the declaration by Newton D.
 Baker, secretary of war in the
 Woodrow Wilson cabinet in which
 Roosevelt was an under-secretary
 of the navy, that he did not favor
 American membership in the
 league until sentiment was "con-
 vincingly' for 1t.
 There were, two important diff
 ferences in the statements of the
 two democratic possibilities as
 presidential candidates, on the sub
 ject.
 Baker announced he was not a candidate. Roosevelt had given democrats of North Dakota per mission to enter him in the state primary.
 Baker opposed American mem bership until public sentiment in this country overwhelmingly favor ed such me mbership. Roosevelt opposed membership because the league "is not the league con- ceived by Woodrow Wilson but has become an organization for little more than political discus
 sionSr
 Roosevelt offered no apology for
 his support of the league in 1920 when he was vice presidentia candidate on the ticket with James
 M. Cox of Ohio.
 In common with millions of
 my countrymen I worked and
 spoke in behalf of American par l ticipation in 8. league of nations
 conceived in the highest spirit of
 world friendship for the great ob-
 ject of preventing return ol World War. For that course
 have no apology to make" he said If today I believed that the same or even similar factors en- tered into the argument. I still would favor Americas entry into the league; and I would go so far as to seek to win over the over ] whelming opposition which exists in this country"
 Roosevelt said American mem bership when the league was form ed might have developed it into the organization intended by Wood row Wilson. And he added: American participation in the i league (now) would not serve the | highest purpose of the prevention of war and settlement of inter. ! national difficulties in accordance with fundamental American ideals l Because of these facts, therefore
 I do not favor American participa 1 tion."
 Of war debts, Roosevelt said: | "The first lesson for all the worlt | is recognition that treaty is ] nations word of honor to another nation, and that all just nationa debts are debts of honor; that therefore, no honorable nation may break a treaty in spirit any more than they may break 1t in letter; nor when it is debtor, may re-
 pudiate or cancel a national debt of
 honor.
 What the world needs most to-
 day is national policy which will make us an example of national honor to other nations" Roosevelt added that a confer ence of debtors should be called
 here with demand for an un- derstanding' he attacked the Shoot Hawley tariff as the cause of trade barriers erected against the United States: he suggested an called for a reduction in the cost international trade conference, and of local government.