The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-05-22
DAVIS GIVES j. S.
POSITION ON WORLD
PEACE IN ADDRESS
Says Government Willing to
Consult With Others in
Event of Breach
PROMISES TO COOPERATE
Doctrine Considered BY League
Experts to Be Abandon
ment Of Old Policy

Geneva. May 22.-(F1-The United
States, through Norman H. Davis,
told the nations Of the world Monday
she would consult with them when
peace Is menaced and If she agrees
with them as to identity Of the ag-
gressors will refrain from any action
OF a nature to hinder collective ef-
forts to restore peace.
This doctrine, considered by League
OF Nations circles as an abandonment
OF Americas traditional policy of iso-
lation was announced by Davis to the
disarmament conference in an eager
ly-awaited speech Monday afternoon.
The doctrine was taken to mean
that when the nations take punitive
measures against an aggressor the
United States, II it agrees to the iden-
tity Of the aggressor, will not insist
upon the rights of neutrality.
Advocates Control System
Davis also announced that the Unit
ed States advocates system of con-
troll and supervision of ornaments and
said that American readiness to par
ticipate In measures for this control
would be effective, automatic and
permanent.
1nferentially opposing a brusk re-
vision of treaties, the American am
bassador -at-large urged the mainten-
ance Of the territorial status quo.
He revealed that his country de-
fines an aggressor as one whose arm
ed forces are found upon foreign ter
ritory in violation of treaties.
He also announced that the United
States is opposed to the rear1nament
of any nation and declared In favor
Of the abolition of offensive arms.
He reiterated American acceptance
of Premier Ramsay MacDonald's re-
cent disarmament proposals..
Turning to the Versailles Treaty
and its consequences, Davis expressed
the conviction that there is a contrac-
tural obligation for armed nations to
reduce their ornaments to defen-
sive level which would be comparable
to the level to which the vanquished
powers were obliged to reduce their
ornaments by the peace treaties.
Condemns Armed Invasion
He referred to President RooSevelt's
proposal for an international agree
ment to prevent the sending of armed
forces outside national territory and
then gave his definition Of an ag-
gressor nation as In line with that pro-
posal.
ITO cut the power of offense and
remove the threat Of surprise attack
would do more than anything else to
lessen the danger Of war Davis said.
If substantive reductions in arn1a-
ments are effected, he continued. the
United States is prepared to contrib
ute in other ways to the organization
Of peace.
I'm particular" he explained, I'VE
are willing to consult the other states
in case Of threat to peace with q
view to averting conflict"
I'm particular" he explained, I'VE
are willing to consult with other
states in case of a threat to peace
with the view Of averting conflict.
Further than that, in the event
that the states In conference deter
mine that state has been guilty Of
a breach of the peace in violation Of
its international obligation and take
measures against the violator, then,
II we concur in the judgment render
ed as to the responsible and guilty
party, we will refrain from any &C
ton tending to defeat such collec-
tive effort which the states may thus
make to restore peace"
Members of the League Of Nations
interpreted the Davis statement to
mean that the United States would
respect a blockade by league powers
against a nation responsible for an
outbreak of war.