Evening star., 1933-10-14
ROOSEVELT SEES
THREAT TO PEACE
Peoples With ImperiaIistic
Desires Still Menace
World, He Says. y
y the Associated Press.

" the Associated Press.
Peoples with "imperialistic desires for
EXPANSION and domination" are viewed
by President Roosevelt as the modern
threat to world peace.
1T seems clear to me-" he said last
night. that it is only through con-
slant education and the stressing of the
ideals of peace that those who still seek
imperialism can be brought in line with
the majority
These statements were made by Mr..
Roosevelt in an address from the White
House to the third annual Women's
Conference on Current Problems,
meeting in New York He said the
complete lack of a national desire for
territorial expansion makes the
rest Of the world begin to understand
that the United States is opposed to
war" He added:
II will go one step further in saying
that the very great majority OF the IN
habitants of the world feel the same
as we do about territorial expansion or
getting rich or powerful at the expense
of their neighbors."
School Quality Stressed.
MIR. Roosevelt emphasized the import
ance of cutting local government costs
''by good business methods and the
elimination of the wrong kind Of pol
itics." but said schools must be restored
to their ~pre-depression educational
level
The quality of our teaching in al
most every State of which 1 have knowl-
edge can be definitely and distinctly
raised" he said.
His appeal for better teaching went
to colleges throughout the country,
federation of women's clubs and nearly
1000 organizations interested in edu-
cation. as we'll as the conference.
He said he wanted to enlist the sup
port of all these interests in the fight
We are making on the depression
Text of Speech.
The text of the Presidents speech
follows:
L am glad to have the opportunity
of greeting those who are attending the
third annual WomenS Conference ON
Current Problems
Il note that the subject of this con-
ference is this crisis in history and
this leads me to suggest that the short
space of 10 minutes will scarcely allow
me to do more than congratulate you
on your courage in seeking fully to
discuss this crisis in history in the
space of two days.
May l. however. touch very briefly
tx1ro 3n1,
mind-two problems which can be
helped by public interest and public
discussion?
Danger Outside Of L. S.
zone of them relates to the peace
of the world The danger to world
peace certainly does not come from the
United States of America. AS nation
we are overwhelmingly against engag-
ing in war. AS nation we are seek
ing no additional territory at the ex-
pense Of our neighbors.
The United States does not seek to
annex Canada or any part thereof, to
annex Mexico or any part thereof. or
to annex Cuba or any part thereof.
It is this attitude 0f the overwhelming
majority of our people toward their
neighbors-this complete lack Of a ma
tional desire for territorial expansion
which makes the rest of the world be-
gin to understand that the United
States is opposed to war
Il will go one step further in saying
that the very great majority of the in
habitants of the world feel the same as
We do about territorial expansion or
getting rich or powerful at the expense
of their neighbors. 1t is only in the
case Of such people in the world as
still have imperialistic desires for eX-
pansion and domination in their minds
or in their hearts that threats to world
peace lie. And. finally, it seems clear
to NE that it is only through constant
education and the stressing of the ideals
Of peace that those who still seek i'm
perialism can be brought in line with
the majority
Crisis Marks Children.
THE other thought that I want to
express to you is even more definitely
along the line of education. 1t is true
unfortunately, that the economic de-
preston has left its serious mark not
only on the science and practice Of
education, but also on the very lives of
many hundreds of thousands of chill
dren who are destined to become our
future citizens.
Every one of us has sought to re-
OuCe lllt CUSl VI sONcl IllllcIit IfCly
one of us believes that the cost Of gov
ernment. especially of local govern
ment. can be reduced still further by
good business methods and the elm
ination of the wrong kind of politics
Nevertheless. with good business
management and the doing away With
extravaganza and frills and the unnec-
essary elements of our educational
practices we must at the same time
have the definite objective in every
State and in every school district OF
restoring the useful functions of edu-
cation at least to their pre-depression
level
I'VE have today for example. a
large surplus of so-called qualified
teachers-men and women who even
If we had full prosperity would and
probably should be unable to find work
in the field of education.
Too Many New Teachers.
even today we are turning out too
many new teachers each year. That
is just as much an economic waste
as building steel rail plants far beyond
the capacity of railroads to use steel
rails 1t goes without saying that we
should have enough teachers and not
large excess supply.
1T goes also without saying that
the quality of our teaching in almost
every State of which I have knowledge
can be definitely and distinctly raised.
The main point is that We need to make
infinitely better the average education
which the average child now receives.
and that through this education, We
will instill into the coming generation
a realization of the part that the
coming generation must play in work
ing out what you have called this
crisis in history
Education Recovery Factor.
This crisis can be met, but not in
q day or year, and education is a
vital factor in the meeting of it.
Il am told that tonight 1 speak not
only to the Conference on Current
Problems but to colleges and uriyer-