Evening star., 1934-05-19
Practical Steps for Peace.

Practical Steps for Peace.
President Roosevelt has moved swift
ly In two different directions to
strengthen the worlds tottering peace
structure. Dealing with the menace
nearest to our own shores-the Para
guayan- Bolivian War he proposes
that Congress authorize him to pro-
claim it unlawful to sell munitions to
either of the two South American bel
ligerents. A resolution submitted to
the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee would empower the President to
embargo the shipment of arms to the
warning states if it is found that
such prohibition may contribute to the
establishment of peace between
them" A similar resolution will be
offered in the House. 1t will undoubt-
edly prevail in both branches OF Con-
eress without noteworthy opposition, If
any. Ensuing action by the President
will have a salutary effect. Presum-
ably both Paraguay and Bolivia have
been deriving sinews of war from this
country on a considerable scale. Their
supply will be automatically cut of. as
soon as Mr.. Roosevelt clamps down his
embargo, which will infiict severe PEN
alties upon anybody who ventures to
violate it. The United States now
aligns itself with European powers
which are pledging themselves to send
no more war equipment to the Chaco
belligerents.
OF vastly further-reaching lmpor-
tance than the proposed embargo on
arms for Paraguay and Bolivia is
President Roosevelt's message to the
Senate calling for ratification OF the
international arms traffic convention
signed at Geneva in 1925 and which
is still before the Senate. The Presi-
dent declares that its ratification has
been too long delayed" He asks
approva! now as "a concrete ndi-
cation of the willingness OF the
American people to make their con-
tribution toward suppression OF abuses
which may have disastrous results Tor
the entire world If they are per-
mitted to remain unchecked" The
Senate should lose no time in taking
the action Mr.. Roosevelt recommends.
In the course of his message the
President acclaims the impending
senatorial investigation Of "the prob
lens incident to the private manu-
facture of arms and munitions of war
and the international traffic therein.
He hopes the investigation will be
thorough and pledges whole-hearted
aid in the accomplishment Of its
purpose.
Appropriately, Mr.. Roosevelt takes
simultaneous occasion to voice the
earnest hope" that the reassembled
League of Nations, meeting at Geneva
this month, may evolve "some suitable
international organization" for even
further-reaching control of the traffic
in arms than Is embodied in the 1925
conventions. Then the President re-
news his appeal for cessation in the
mad race in armament, which, If
allowed to 70 on" he says, may well
result in war" Holding that this
grave menace to peace is due in no
small measure to the uncontrolled
activities of the manufacturers and
merchants Of engines of destruction "
Mr.. Roosevelt says it must be met by
the concerted action of the peoples of
all nations" America, he plainly
indicates, is ready to do its part.
1t is, of course, not the first time
in recent years that such appeals have
been directed to the military and
naval powers. But it is emlnently
satisfactory that the President of the
United States once again, and at this
moment of widespread international
tension, places his views squarely on
record. They reflect the opinion Of
the overwhelming majority Of the
American people, whose anxiety for
peace and square dealing in the world
is interchangeable