Evening star., 1932-06-21

guiding toward the day when Atlantic
flying will be no longer noteworthy.
America in International Affairs.
A timid step forward\ for Americas
Official participation In international
! conversations was taken at the Repub-
lican party's convention in Chicago
The plank itself appears fairly innocu-
Gus: 1t merely says that 1t favors
participation by the United States In
international conferences.
The meaning of these words Is
however, important. For years, eveI
since the end of the World War, the
J European nations have wanted this
country to participate in the solution
of all their troubles. political and
financial. The American people have
always been opposed to foreign entangle-
ments and agreements. 1t is impossible
to reconcile the European Interpretation
of peace with the American point OF
view. Peace treaties were signed after
the World War, which a large section
Of the American people considered un-
! just and likely to breed another war
| Some nations want them maintained at
any price, even that OF war. Other
| nations want them changed: their
maintenance they say, is cause OF
war in itself
Between these diametrically opposed
theories, it Is only natural that the
American people should want to stay out
Of any agreements with either Of the
groups which cannot agree as to what
constitutes cause for trouble.
But our interest in international
affairs has been rapidly growing. We
loaned money to the whole world; our
trade expanded over the seven seas.
The restlessness Of Europe affects US.
The danger Of new war worries us.
Since 1922 We have made strenuous
efforts to overcome the dangers which
are menacing the world; We have re-
duced our Navy, We have cut our Army
to an almost dangerous minimum in
the hope that others would follow our
example
To do this, international conferences
were necessary, and We have had them,
participating in them, either here, or
by sending delegates abroad.
Since 1919 some fifty-two interna-
tional conferences have been held, and
American delegates have sat in thirty Of
them
But lately the main obstacle to our
attending these international parleys
was the fact that the President of
the United States had to ask Congress
for the necessary funds to send dele
cations to these conferences. If the
Congress was in conference mood, :"
the necessary funds were granted; II
Congress was In a battling mood. these
appropriations were difficult to obtain.
The plank Of the Republican party,
to give the President the authority to
send delegates to attend international
conferences, proposes to do away with
this difficulty. If it Is followed by leg
islation, the United States will be able
to join other nations any time the
President may deem it advisable. And
the chances are that a good many con-
ferences will have to be called before
the present uncertain situation in the
world has been settled.
The Kellogg BRAND pact, which was
hailed at one time as the only instru-
| ment which could dispose Of the danger
| Of new war, as much as any such
instrument can be effective in our days
! Is an agreement whereby all signatories
| renounce war as an instrument of ma
tional policy 1t does not provide, how
ever. for sanctions; neither does it pro-
! vide for any consultation among the
| interested parties should such a danger
, occur.
The President has by the Constitu-
tion Of the United States the full re-
sponsibility for the conduct Of the for
eign affairs of this country. BY free
| ing his hands Of the obligation Of going
/ to Congress for the necessary appropria-
| tions to send a delegation to an inter-
national conference. an important step
toward more effective cooperation
OF the United States in international
! affairs will be taken. 1t will be half
| way between implementing the Kellogg
| BRAND pact and the much disliked con-
sultative pact. 1t will mean that this
country will always be able to consult
with other nations, without, however,
assuming any direct obligations as a
consequence of such consultations.
This the United States has been doing
for years; this it intends to do in the
future. But with the proposed fund
at his disposal the position Of the
President will be easier, because he will
no longer be dependent on the mood
Of Congress.
--SAoNS