Evening star., 1935-09-13
America Pleads for Peace.

Conscious that the Ethiopian
conflict has reached the critical point,
with war an imminent peril, the United
States has made a vigorous eleventh.
hour appeal for peace. In formal state
ment reviewing this Governments sue
cessive steps to promote an amicable
settlement, Secretary Hull throws Amer
ican influence whole-heartedly behind
current efforts Of the League OF Nations
to prevent hostilities. 1t is as sig
natory of the Kellogg BRAND pact,
whereby sixty-two nations. including
italy and Ethiopia, pledge themselves to
renounce war, that the United states
intrudes itself into the existing threat
to peace.
With logical emphasis Secretary Hull
dwells upon the worldwide ramiflcations
of that menace. "A threat of hostili-
ties anywhere" he declares, cannot but
be a threat to the interests-political,
economic, legal and social-of all ma
tions." Because adverse and undeslr-
able effects in every part of the world
result from any armed conflict the
American position is that every nation
has the right to ask that no nation
subject it and other nations to the
hazards and uncertainties that must
inevitably accrue to all from resort to
arms bv any two. - The Government
and people of the United States, with
good will toward all nations, desire
peace"
Unfortunately, it is matter OF gravest
doubt whether the invocation OF the
Kellogg BRAND pact at this advanced
stage of Mussolinis war preparations Will
stav his hand. That prospect does not
detract from the eminent significance
of the step that has been taken. 1t
constitutes a forceful reminder to II
Duce that although the United states
is not a member of the League OF Ma
tions or formally identified with its pend
ing endeavors to preserve peace, Amer
ican sympathy with those efforts Is un-
mistakable and unqualified. Rome can
no longer be blind to the fact that world
opinion is at length solidly modified
against Fascist plans to f1out the cove
nanted pledge of all civilized peoples TO
settle international controversies exclu-
sively by pacific means.
There is, of course, no implication IN
Secretary Hull's statement that the
United States would join in League
sanctions against Italy. But recently
enacted legislation debarring American
arms shipments to any belligerent would
to that extent be in line with action
against the aggressor, while the john
son law prevents the Italians from OBJ
tanning credits in this country. In any
event, Mussolini now knows on the
highest authority that his defiance OF
the peace needs of mankind causes
deep concern and widespread anx-
iety" in the United States. The dictator
on the Tiber will realize that If he
makes war on Ethiopia he can hope Tor
no iota of moral support on this side
of the Atlantic, while the prospect OF
his obtaining material aid OF any sort
will at least be highly problematical.
While strict neutrality may be the
official American watchword, in case
hostilities in Africa ensue, Italy's war
from its outset will be assured the COM
plete condemnation of this Government
and people. 1t is wholesome and proper
that the administration has placed it
self on record in a way which leaves
little room for question on this score.