Evening star., 1935-11-12
SPEECH IS THRUST !
AT DICTATOR RULE.
Italy ForcefuIIy Accused Of
Breaking Treaty to
Outlaw War.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Roosevelt not only sensed
the feeling In the hearts of his coun-
trymen in his Armistice day speech,
but. significantly, he employed the oc-
casion to tell the world, in as diplo-
matte words as he could command,
that America is not blind to the as
saults being made against democracy.
As head of a Nation which Is at
peace with all the other nations In the
world, irrespective of their forms of
government, Mr.. Roosevelt could not
afford to challenge concretely the ma
tionalism of any country or leader,
but the words of the Presidents
speech will be read in the chancelleries
of Europe without any doubt as to
their true significance or the applica-
ton Of his words to Italy and Ger
many and relationships that threaten
world peace.
There could be no clearer accusa-
ton of Italy's breaking Of the Kellogg
BRAND treaties outlawing war than Is
contained in the following utterance
by Mr.. Roosevelt:
1--WE are acting to simplify def1ni-
tions and facts by calling war war
when armed invasion and resulting
killing OF human beings take place"
No Quibbling in Statement.
The foregoing quotation Is a force
full reminder to the world that the
United States was the first to issue a
neutrality proclamation and to put
into effect an embargo on war NUM-
tions. There was no quibbling as to
whether Italy and Ethiopia went to
war. The President wants 1t under
stood, apparently. that he considers
Italy's armed invasion Of Ethiopia as
a violation Of the pledge given by Italy
to outlaw aggressive war.
But though our course Is consistent
and clear" said the President, lit is
with disappointment and sorrow that
we confess that the world gain thus
far has been small.
Il would not be frank with you II
I did not tell you that the dangers
that confront the future OF mankind
as a whole are greater to the world
and therefore to us than the dangers
which confront the people OF the
United States by and in themselves
alone"
In that sentence is really startling
confession and one that will not soon
be forgotten as having been said by
a President Of the United States in
the midst of critical situation
abroad. Here Mr.. Roosevelt plainly
implies that America may try to be
neutral, may try to keep out Of actual
conflict. but the political and eco
nomic repercussions from other parts
OF the world may catch the American
people in the sweeping tide Of world
movements.
Explains Basis Of Fears.
Lest there be doubt as to just what
he meant. the President makes it
clear in his next sentence what Is
really at the bottom Of his fears:
"Jealousies between nations con-
tinue, armaments increase. national
ambitions that disturb the world peace
are thrust forward. Most serious Of
all, international confidence in the
sacredness Of international contracts
is on the wane."
This is but a paraphrase Of the cry
that treaties are being torn into
scraps Of paper" a cry that was
raised 81 years ago and contributed
opinion which sanctioned a war to
end wars" II international confidence
in international contracts" is on the
wane, who but Germany, Japan and
Italy have given any more conspic-
uous examples Of defiance of treaties?
And where, except in the countries
that have suppressed democracy. has
there been any evidence of national
ambitions that disturb the world
peace?"
Had Mr.. Roosevelt's speech been
uttered in 1917, it would have been
recognized as a counterpart of the
philosophy which led President Will
son to declare war in the hope Of
saving democracy. That America did
not succeed in her objective and that
the world has reverted to a situation
even worse, in some respects. than
1t faced in 1914 is not the fault Of
the one country which got nothing
out of the peace conference. indeed
asked for nothing.
Pacifistic Views Criticized.
The one blot on the years that have
passed since the Armistice day Of
1918 is the attitude of misguided
pacifists who are trying to tell the
generations that have come of age
since then that the United States
went into the European war for self
ish, commercial reasons.
There can be no question but that
commercial rivalries helped to bring
on the war in 1914, but to imply that
the American people were led child
like by financial considerations or by
financial leaders or that President
Wilson was duped into entering the
war Is to obliterate the facts of 1917,
when Mr.. Wilson and the American
people saw the conf1agration in Eu-
rope rising to the point that ever
the seas were no longer free and inno-
cent human life was being destroyed
without warning as ships flying the
American flag were torpedoed by Ger
man submarines. The road to war
in 1917 is q question of fact with
which competent historians will deal
It cannot be erased by hindsight rea-
soning..
Mr.. Roosevelt makes no defense OF
war, in fact he deplores it. and the
key to his mind may be found in the
following compact sentence that ex-
presses American policy in way that
will prove satisfactory to all citizens,
irrespective Of party:
while, therefore. we cannot and
must not hide our concern for grave
world dangers, and while, at the
same time, We cannot build walls
around ourselves and hide our heads
In the sand, we must 60 Sorward with
all our strength to stress - strive
for international peace"
tCopyrisht 1889
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