Evening star., 1933-12-29
PRESIDENT BLAMES
LEADERS FOR WARS
Roosevelt Urges Non-Aggres'
sion Pact in Wilson Day
Address Here.
Ey the Associated Press.

The Whlte house tOoay pecaiile
listening post for reaction to sterr
challenge by President Roosevelt that
world political leaders must assume al
blame for the blocking of a universe,
peace accord.
The President rested behind three
step plan for a world non-aggression
pact, by which, he said, any nation still
believing in the use Of the sword fol
invasion" could be singled out.
Standing before a 77th birthday an
niversary commemoration Of Woodrow
Wilson at the MayfloWer Hotel last
night, Mr.. Roosevelt praised the wal
Presidents League of Nations realiza-
ton as "a prop" but not the answer
to the world peace structure. OF the
League, he added, while an audience OF
Its advocates sat in temporary silence
I'VE are not members and We do not
contemplate membership"
Many observers today interpreted his
speech as his strongest exposition OF
American foreign policy. He termed
his administration unequivocally op-
posed TO intervention. He assailed those
world leaders he said were overriding
the wishes of the people they repre-
sented in throwing bars across the
path OF a peace accord.
The blame for the danger to world
peace" he said, lies not in the world
population, but in the political leaders
of that population"
Elimination of Weapons.
The President outlined again his plan
under which he would have every ma
ton agree to eliminate over a period OF
years by progressive steps, all offensive
weapons; at the same time Joining In
q universal declaration that no nation
would allow its armed forces to cross
Its own borders.
1T is clear. of course" he said. that
no such general agreement for the
elimination of aggression and OF the
weapons of offensive warfare would be
of any value to the world unless every
nation without exception, entered into
the agreement by solemn obligation.
If then such an agreement were
signed by a great majority of the ma
tions of the definite condition that 1t
would go into effect only when signed
by all the nations. it would be COM
paratively easy matter to determine
which nations in this enlightened time
are willing to go on record as belong
ing to the small minority OF mankind
which still believes In the use OF the
sword for invasion Of and attack upon
their neighbors."
Mr.. Roosevelt added he had reserved
this suggestion until he was assured
after hard-headed practical survey
that the overwhelming majority OF the
population, both in the United States
and throughout the world, would sub
scribe to such fundamental objective
THE political leaders of many OF
these peoples interpose and will intec-
pose argument, excuse. befogging amend
ment-yes. and even ridicule," he added
"but I tell them that the men and
women they serve are so far in advancs
of that type of leadership that we could
get a world accord on peace Immediately
if the people of the world spoke fol
themselves"
Wilson's Challenge
In praising the work and ideals OF
Woodrow Wilson, under whom he first
came into the national politics as Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy during the
war, Mr.. Roosevelt said it was but an
extension of the former President
challenge" that the present generation
proposes that war by governments shall
be changed to peace by peoples"
The Chief Executive spoke briefly CT
this country's Latin American policy
declaring much credit for the fine sue
longed to Secretary of State Hull. That
meetlng, he said, left better feeling
among American nations than at any
time within a generation.
Asserting American opposition to
armed intervention, he made no men
tion of Cuba. Should the orderly
process OF any government fail, he said
it should become the concern not Of
any one country in particular, but OF
all the neighboring countries on that
continent.
In his address, which was broadcast
over a nationwide radio hook-up, Mr.
roosevelt, while rejecting the idea Of
United States membership in the Leae1Ie
OF Nations, praised its work.
1.-The League Of Nations" he said
encouraging as it does the extension
OF non-aggression pacts. of reduction o1
armament agreements, is a prop in this
world peace structure"
President Wilson's gallant appeal" tc
DANISH future wars, Mr. Roosevelt said
meant little to the imagination or the
hearts OF large number of the So
called statesmen" gathered in Paris 10,
the peace pact Of 1919.
L saw that with my own ewes and
hearo 1t with my own ears" Mr.. Roose-
Velt said, referring to his work abroad
as an Assistant Secretary of the NAVY
during the war and postwar days
Political profit, personal prestige. ma
tlonal aggrandizement attended the
nlrth OF the League of Nations and han
olcapped 1t from its infancy by seeking
tnelr own profit and their own safetT
We are not members and We do moi
contemplate membership" he said.
ms statement apparently passed the
audience of Wilson's admirers un-
noticed in their enthusiasm for Mr.
RooSevelt'S Endorsement of the war
Presidents principles.
War Figures Present.
AS the President spoke, there were
gathered at the table near him some
OF the figures of the war days.
Sitting in soldierly fashion Just dowr
the table from Mr.. Roosevelt was the
commander of the American Expedi.
tlonary Force that went overseas unde,
the direction of Wilson, Gen. John J
Pershing.
The Ambassador to Japan durins
Wilson'S administration, Roland S
Morris of Philadelphia, president O,
the woodrow Wilson Foundation, in.
troduced the President, calling atten.
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