Evening star., 1933-05-28

UNQUALIFIED support OF PreSl-
dent Roosevelt's peace message
has come from the other side
~ of the Rio Grande. The Chief
Executives of the Latin Ameri-
can republics haxe expressed their en-
thusiastic approval of it and promised
their cooperation in any moves under
taken to carry out the four points con-
cerning disarmament and non-aggres-
sion outlined in the Presidents pro-
posal.
There was one exception, but that
not from diSapproval of the plan, but
because the head of one Central Ameri-
can state was not included in the list
of executives addressed by President
Roosevelt. The government of Gen
Martinez of El Salvador, although in
power for the last year and half, has
not yet been extended recognition by
the State Department, due to techni-
calities arising from the Central Ameri-
Salvadorian President was not invited
to express his opinion of the Roosevelt
proposal 1t is obvious, however, that
President Martinez will act with no less
zeal than his colleagues whenever actual
steps are taken to translate President
Roosevelt's suggestions into formal
binding agreements.
OF course, it was only to be expected
that the world at large would welcome
the dramatic move OF the President oi
the United States-"the most impor-
tant political document to come out OF
the White House since the Wilson IL
points" Despite the protests and ex-
plantations of reactionary elements, il
is undeniable that the Roosevelt peace
message marks a departure from the
traditional isolation myth and that II
places the United States in position
of leadership in world affairs in which
all the nations are more than glad tt
see her.
Hailed as Ray of Hope.
In the midst of international rival.
ries, political crises and an overflow oI
Eationalism such as have seldom beer
| witnessed before, the assistance of the
United States in keeping the worlc
from plunging into new war which
many statesmen fear would mean the
end of Western civilization, can never
be overestimated. Thus, even if rela-
lively on-committal and discreet, the
message of President Roosevelt, inviting
the governments of the earth to get to-
gether in sincere and definite attempt
to insure peace and bring about dis.
armament, has been hailed as the frs
ray of hope breaking through the pes.
simism and uncertainty clouding the in.
tornational horizon.
Besides. as shown subsequently by
Ambassador at Large Norman H. Davis
ct Geneva, the Roosevelt proposal il
! only the beginning. the first step of 6
new policy. new deal' in world af.
fairs. in which the United States i!
going to occupy at last the place thai
| her political ideals and her unboundec
material resources have long gained fol
her.
For all this. naturally, the heads O.
the Latin American republics. just a!
those OF the other governments invited
by President Roosevelt to join the move
ment, could only find encouragement in
and express qualification at, the pro-
posal advanced by the Chief Executive
of the United States.
But, apart from that, apart from th'
fundamental philosophy of peace under
lying it. the Latin American leader
have other peculiar reasons to rejoic,
! a. the latest pronouncement of Presi
| dent Roosevelt. Whether or not the,
had these reasons in mind when making
! public their approval of it, it is inter
eSting to note the special signif1canc,
i that the fourth point of the Roosevelt
i plan has for Latin America.
Would Remove Major Problem.
This point suggests: THAT all the ma
| tions Of the world should enter into {
solemn and definite pact of non-aggres.
sion; that they should solemnIy reaffirn
the obligations they have assumed II
limit and reduce their ornaments. and
provided these obligations are faithfully
executed by all signatory powers, in.
dividually agree that they will send M
armed force of whatsoever nature across
their frontiers
What would this agreement mean, Il
materialized. in the specific field oi
inter-American relations? What woulo
be the final effect on them of a mutua
pledge not to send armed forces of what
Soever nature across their frontiers?
The answer can be given in a few