Evening star., 1933-12-29

leaders. Of privileged classes or OF i'm
perialistic aims"
u. S. Still Ready to Act.
This part of the Presidents speech is
interpreted in diplomatic quarters IN
Washington to mean that the President
considers the League as the one and
only place where honest peace and
honest. unequivocal disarmament can be
discussed, and that the United States,
instead of Shying at the League because
of its lack of success in its effort to
bring a general limitation of arms, is
still ready to cooperate to bring the
ship of peace safely into the harbor
The President is convinced, from read
ing reports and talking to responsible
persons, that the peoples as a whole
are all yearning for peace; that is to
say, the vast majority of the people of
the world.
He believes an agreement for a solid
peace is made difficult by the antics of
the 'so-called statesmen"
If you figure the worlds population
at approximately 1.500.000,000 people"
stated Mr.. Roosevelt. you will find it
safe to guess that at least 80 per cent
of all of them are today content with
the territorial limits of their respective
countries and are willing further to
reduce their armed forces tomorrow if
every nation in the world will agree to
do the same thing.
10 Per Cent Create Fear.
Back of the threat to world peace
lies the fear and perhaps even the
possibility that the other 10 per cent
of the people of the world may go
along with the leadership which seeks
-fol Ncin OF
neighbors and which under various
pleas in avoidance are unwilling 10
reduce their ornaments or to stop re
arming even if everybody else agrees
to aggression and to arms reouc-
ton"
This statement has produced an I'M
preston in japanese quarters, because
II is evident that while the PreSloenV
could not name Japan as the natlon
which follows a policy of agrandlZement
at her neighbors expense, the polcles
of that country since 1881, nave SHOWN
clearly that the japanese nation; on
the whole, is following It's mlllIaly
leaders to seek a place in the sun 1or
its oyercrowded population and its over
producing industries. 4
THE President believes, however, that
the will of this minority OF peoples tlle
eegressiveness of whom has mace as
armament impossible should not prevent
the desire of the vast majority ol the
neonles of the world who want TO i've
In peace.
Reiterates May Offer.
To prove his faith in dlsarmamene
Mr. Roosevelt reiterated his o1er ol
NAV is for an effective disarmament.
He again suggested to the people OF Ine
world TO get together and discuss ols-
armament. 49,. 90 an
aoreement were signed by great ma
ioritv of nations on the definite under
Standing that it would go into eHect
only when signed by all the nations, IL
wo,ild be a comparatively easy matter
to determine which nations are Wiling
In 90 on record as belonging 10 the
small minority which still belleVe Ill
the use of the sword.
Clarifies Policies.
Digressing from the general Worlo
situation to something closer to nome
the relations with South American
countries, the President clariheo the
policies of this country to"alos 'iie
Latin American neighborS.
For years the policy of the united
States towards those less powerful re
nublics has been one of friendly guard
ianship. That is to say, that while tlllS
country had no intention OF TERRITORIAL
expansion, it felt duty bound TO play Ine
role of the good Dutch uncle trying 10
maintain peace in those turbulent ma,
tions. This policy has naturally aroused
the suspicious of the Latin American
peoples as to the true motives OF Oncle
sam when he sent Marines and cruisers
to such places as Nicaragua and Haltl:
"As a citizen of some other republlc,
stated the President, Il might nave
found it difficult to fully believe IN the
altruism of the richest American re-
public. I might have found IL
hard to approve the occupation OF the
territory of other republic, even as
temporary measure.
Then he supplemented the declara-
tion of President Wilson by stating en-
phatically that 1.-The definite policy OF
the United States from now on is one
opposed to armed intervention 1t is
easy to imagine the tremendous reper-
cussion this statement is having TO-DAY
throughout the South American cont1-
nent, from Cuba to the Argentine Re
public.
For Self Government.
Then referring, without naming it, to
Cuba. the President showed his deep
understanding of the problems of
neiahboring nations and the mistakes
made heretofore by other adminlstra-
tions in trying to preserve, even by
force, the constitutional governments in
Latin America: THE maintenance OF
constitutional governments in other ma
tions is not a sacred obligation devolv-
ing upon the United States alone. The
maintenance of law in this hemisphere
Is the concern of each individual nation
within its borders first of all. When
the failure of orderly processes affects
the other nations of the continent II
becomes their concern"
In this sentence the President warned
those from the other hemisphere that
the affairs of this part OF the Worlo
are the affairs of the nations which
exist here. But Mr.. Roosevelt went
further in stating that the tlme WneH
America was playing the policeman OF
this hemisphere has come to an eno.
Speaking about nations which cannot
maintain order within their own bor-
ders, to the inquiry of citizens Of Ameri-
can nations, he stated. "the point OF
stress is that in such an event it becomes
the Joint concern of a whole continent
In which we are all neighborS."
The meaning Of this sentence, which
changes policy followed by the Unlteo
States for generations, is that should
an intervention become inevitable. the
burden OF responsibility for the re-
establishment of law and order will not
fall upon the United States alone. but
will have to be shared by all the neigh
boring nations alike. If an interven-
tion becomes necessary, the expedition"
ary corps will have to be formed. ac-
cording to the Interpretation given in
diplomatic circles to the Presidents
statement, by contingents from all the
neighboring nations
Locusts Threaten Crops.