Evening star., 1933-05-16
|4 NATIONS GET
ROOSEVELT PLEA

fensive Arms Asked in
| Message.
Continued From First Page.)
time when the Japanese advance In
| China is In full swing.
! It asked specifically for success OF
the Geneva Arms Conference and the
London Economic Conference, and pro-
posed later conference to carry fur-
ther the work begun there.
Plain Language Employed.
The Presidents words rang through
the diplomatic world with dramatic sig
{ nificance at q moment when certain
leaders In Germany are asking for
greater armament, when Japanese troops
are marching deeper into the territory
Of China, and when other peoples are
suspected of harboring aspirations to
ACQUIRE new territory by force.
For the United States, the plain
words of the declaration also hint at
a status quo with respect to the Ameri-
| can forces now stationed, by treaty, IN
portions of China.
Common sense points out that II any
! strong nation refuses to join with genu-
| inc sincerity In these concerted enorts
for political and economic peace, the
one at Geneva and the other at Lon.
don, progress can be obstructed and
ultimately blocked" said Mr.. Roosevelt.
"In such event the civilized world,
seeking both forms Of peace, will know
| where the responsibility for failure lies.
II urge that no nation assume such
! a responsibility and that all the nations
| Joined In these great conferences trans
late their professed policies into action.
This is the way to political and eco
nonajc peace"
Addressed Directly to Rulers.
The message, contrary to long-stand-
ing diplomatic practice, was addressed
directly to the Kings. Potentates and
Presidents of all Of the 54 nations to
be represented at London, including
Russia. 1t was signed just Franklin
D. Roosevelt"
It went forward early today in direct
language without the usual protection
| OF diplomatic code.
Within q space Of a few hours It
would be before the head of every great
nation around the globe and most Of
| the smaller ones.
The Presidents inclusion of Soviet
Russia among the countries to which
he addressed his message led to in
creasing conjecture at the Capitol and
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas, the
Democratic leader, said in statement
that this act may have the effect"
Of the United States recognizing the
Soviet government.
The attitude in official quarters, how
ever, was to the effect that communi-
eating with Russia In this case not only
did not constitute recognition, but also
was not to be considered q step to-
ward recognition.
Hitler Speaks Tomorrow.
No American official would comment
| for publication on the possible impli-
cations Of the message with respect
to individual nations. So far as formal
comment was concerned, 1t might have
been Just coincidence that the appeal.
with It's words of admonition. was issued
| just on the eve Of Adolf Hitlers pro-
nouncement Of German policy to be
delivered in the Reichstag tomorrow.
| The American Government Is fully
aware that the sweeping words Of the
] .
preted to apply to this nations own
foreign policy.
The proposal that no armed forces
| whatsoever be sent across q frontier,
except where arms limitation agree
ments have been violated, stirred par
| ttcular discussion here. Before the
message was dispatched. this whole
subject was fully debated among State
Department onlcials and others.
The United States now has Marines
in one Latin-American country-Haiti.
A date has been set for their with
drawal. They have no permanent
status there. And their re-entry would
| appear to constitute a direct crossing Of
the frontier by armed troops.
Status Of Troops In China.
There are soldiers and Marines also
| In China, but on a different basis.
Their presence there Is defined by long
existing treaty. It was indicated in
official quarters today that they would
not, therefore, fall within the prohibi-
ton suggested by Mr.. Roosevelt, except
In one sense. A question would arise
If these American units undertook to
enlarge In any way the territory they
by treaty in Manchuria did at the
beginning Of the present Sino-Japanese
warfare.
No official would enlarge Immediately
on the effect here Of the proposal to
do away with offensive weapons Of
warfare. The tentative plans Of the
American Navy provide for construction
of more eight-inch cruisers, and that
J type Of ship has been regarded by some
naval experts as essentially q weapon
OF offense. But the point is disputed
! Mr.. Roosevelt's message Of more than
1000 words had the names of the 81
recipients arrayed In columns at the
heading, arranged in alphabetical
figures as King George Of England
President Won Hindenburg Of Germany
Emperor Hirohito of Japan, King Vic
tor Emanuel of Italy. President Lebrun
Of France and president Michail Kali
inin, All Union Central Executive Com
mittee, Moscow, Russia" scattered
down in the list.
Parley Causes Outlined.
The President began by outlining
briefly the impelling causes which
brought the Geneva and London con-
ferences into being, and asking that
clared the duty of statesmen lay In the
direction of practical results" through
concerted action.
Before the imperative call of this
great duty" he said, petty obstacles
must be swept away and petty aims
forgotten. A selfish victory IS always
destined to be an ultimate defeat. The
furtherance Of durable peace for our
generation In every part Of the world
IS the only goal worthy Of our best
efforts"
The message listed two obstacles to
this goal: The desire of some govern
ments to enlarge their territory at the
expense of others, and the fear OF
nations that they would be invaded
Then the President added:
There is justification for this fear