The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-01-14
ROOSEVELT TO
CHANGE ENTIRE
FOREIGN POLICY
New Regime Will Seek
More Practicable
Approaches.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMNIS
Scripps- Howard Foreign Edi.cr

Scripps-H Howard Foreign Edi.cr
WASHINGTON. Jan. Changes
in the foreign policy of the United
States of utmost Importance to the
entire world but particularly to
France are now regarded as certain
after March 4.
The changes will involve the
whole field of war debts. disarm-
ament, world security, tariffs and
other trade barriers, the writer un-
derstands, the spirit of the Roose-
welt administration being to seek
new and more practicable ap-
proaches.
France. it is said. will not be iso-
lated because of her default in De-
cember.
If she really is looking for an
honorable way out Of her present
impasse, a way will be provided.
That is to say if she wishes to
confer with the United States on
the subject of war debt. the door
by no means will be slammed in her
face.
Agrees With French Stand
Secondly, President Elect Frank
lin d. Roosevelt is understood to
view the problem of disarmament
very much as France does.
The French thesis is security be-
fore disarmament. With this the
incoming President is understood to
be in sympathy as a sheer matter of
practical world politics.
Nations can not be forced to dis
arm against their will, unless de-
feated in war, and no nation afraid
for its security will weaken its ma
tional defense.
1t is expected therefore, that
PreSident-Elect Roosevelt will leave
no stone unturned to bolster up the
worlds peace machinery so that ma
lions will feel safe in disarming.
Among other things, his closest
advisers indicate, he will take steps
to implement the pact of Paris out
having war and seek to pledge this
and other great powers not to aid
an aggressor-at least, not without
consultation Of warning in advance.
Efforts So Far Failures
The policy of the United States
up to the present has been that
disarmament purely is a technical
matter. The whole world simply
might agree to cut down their arms
by one-third or one half, and still
Kemain relatively as secure as ever.
This may be absolutely true, it is
observed, but unless, and until, all
the major powers admit it, it will
remain an impracticable basis for
disarmament.
And SO it has proved France, key
to European, and, therefore, world
disarmament, steadfastly has re-
fused to admit the truth of the
American contention, thus every eff
fort to limit land and air armament
Signally has failed.
The more practical approach
attributed to President Elect Roose-
welt is seen as putting new hope
into the movement.
IL was not until the nine-poWer
treaty, concerning China, the four
power pact of the Pacific and
other far eastern political problems
had been solved that the naval
limitation treaty was signed at
Washington.
Firm Foreign Policy"
Similarly, Mr.. Roosevelt is said
to hold that until some of the DO
litical problems affecting interna-
tional security are gotten out of
the way, real progress in world dis
armament will be impossible.
1t now is thought that an inter-
national conference on tariffs and
other trade barriers may be called
to meet simultaneously with, if not
actually a part Of, the coming
world economic conference.
The firm foreign policy" de-
mandec by the Democratic plat
form, it is said, will be followed to
the letter by the United States af-
ter March 4, but Colonel House is
quoted as saying that it will be
done as responsible sovereign
member Of the world society" read
lily ceding the rights of others. and
demanding its own.