Evening star., 1936-08-15

-COpyTlgHt, "A. +. WHepHOLO.
1t produces disaster. 1t was the pros
pect of war profits that made our
| farmers in the West plow up prairie
land that should never have been
pl0Wed but should have been left
for grazing cattle. Today We are
Teaping the harvest Of those war
profits In the dustStorms which have
devastated those war plowed areas.
1t was the prospect of war profits
that caused the extension of monop-
oily and unjuStified expansion of in
dustry and a price level so high that
the normal relationship between
| debtor and creditor was destroyed.
| Nevertheless. If war should break
out again in another continent, let
us not blink the fact that we would
find in this country thousands of
! Americans who. seeking immediate
riches-foolS' gold-would attempt to
break down OF evade our neutrality
| They would tell you-and, unfor-
tunately. their views would get wide
publicity-that if they could produce
and ship this and that and the other
article to belligerent nations the un-
/ employed of America would all find
work. They would tell you that if
| they could extend credit to warning
| nations that credit would be used in
the United States to build homes and
/ factories and pay our debts. They
: tnlI L..
more would capture the trade of the
/ world.
Hard to Realize Penalties.
1t would be hard to resist that
clamor: it would be hard for many
| Americans. I fear, to look beyond
to realize the inevitable penalties. the
inevitable day of reckoning that comes
from false prosperity. To resist the
clamor of that greed. IL war should
come, would require the unswerving
support OF all Americans who love
! peace.
| If we face the choice of profits or
/ peace, the Nation will ansWer-must
answer-'we choose peace" 1t is the
| DUTY OF all OF us to encourage such a
body OF public opinion in this country
| that the answer will be clear and for
all practical purposes unanimous.
With that wise and experienced man
who is our Secretary of State, whose
craftsmanship has met with such wide
approval, ! have thought and worked
long and hard on the problem of keep
ing the United States at peace But
all the wisdom of America is not to be
found in the White House or in the
Department of State; we need the
meditation. the prayer and the posi-
tive support of the people of America
who go along with us in seeking peace.
No matter how well we are supported
by neutrality legislatio we must re-
member that no laws can be provided
to cover every contingency. for it Is
impossible to imagine how every future
event may shape itself. In spite of
every possible forethought, interna-
tional relations involve of necessity a
vast uncharted area. In that area
safe sailing will depend on the knowl-
edge and the experience and the wis
dom of those who direct our foreign
policy. Peace will depend on their
day-to-day decisions.
At this late date. with the wisdom
which. is so easy after the event and
SO difficult before the event. We find it
possible to trace the tragic series of
small decisions which led Europe into
the great war in 1914 and eventually
engulfed us and many other nations
Most Singularly Blessed.
We can keep out of war If those
who watch and decide have a suff1-
GENTLY detailed understanding of in
ternational affairs to make certain
that the small decisions Of each day
do not lead toward war and if, at the
same time, they possess the courage to
| say mo" to those who selfishly or
unwisely would let us go to war.
OF all the nations of the world to-
day We are in many ways most sing
ularly blessed. Our closest neighbors
are good neighbors. If there are re-
moter nations that wish us not good,
but i'll, they know that we are strong;
they know that we can and will defend
ourselves and defend our neighborhood.
| We seek to dominate no other ma
ton. We ask no territorial expansion.
We oppose imperialism. We desire re-
duction in world ornaments.
We believe in democracy; we believe
In freedom; we believe in peace. We
offer to every nation of the world the
handclasp of the good neighbor. Let
those who wish our friendship look us
In, the ave and take oalr hand