Evening star., 1936-10-25
~ the Associated Press.


lowing is the text of Gov. ALI N
Landon's speech delivered at the stat
fair grounds. indianapolis. tonight:
am deeply moved by the great
number of you here tonight. just as
was by that wonderful parade this
afternoon. I take it not as
personal tribute, but as an evidence
of your concern in the great cause
] represent.
For many years I have heard OF
the special interest shown by the
people of Indianapolis and of
Indiana In the foreign relations OF
this country. know the women
have been largely responsible for
this and I want to compliment
them. Because there is no more
important question before mankind
today than whether peace shall
rule the world, or war.
So tonight, here in Indianapolis,
! want to talk about the relations
Of America to world peace.
The conduct of foreign relations
was placed by the Constitution in
the hands of the President. The
policies are his. But, in my judg-
ment, those Presidents have been
we'll advised who have made it their
practice not only to consult the
Department of State and the ma
jority members of the Committee
on Foreign Relations, but the
minority members as we'll.
The carrying out of these poll
cies, the actual negotiating is done
by the Secretary of State. This is
because in the eyes of the outside
world the Presidents decision is
final. In consequence, if the Presi-
dent talks directly with foreign
officials any careless remark may
lead to international misunder-
standings. AS Mr.. Coolidge once
said: "One of the first lessons
President has to learn is that every
word he says weighs a ton" In
foreign affairs I do not propose to
be . talkative man. But I do pro-
pose to appoint as Secretary OF
State a competent man, grounded
in sound American principles. I
do propose to build morale In the
department and the foreign service
by rewarding merit as it deserves.
A devoted, competent and coura-
geous foreign service is one OF the
first insurance policies We must
take against war.
Our principal aim in foreign re-
lations must always be to observe
good faith and justice toward all
nations, cultivate peace and har-
rnony with all"
War Can Never Be
Father Of Peace.
Stopping a war once begun has
never proved practical except by
the use of stronger armies. This
means war to stop war. While
men are what they are this will
always be a delusion to crush the
hope and break the hearts of
those who seek to wipe out war.
War will never be the father of
peace!
I shall do everything within my
power to prevent the tragedy of
war from ever touching our coun-
try. I shall encourage with all my
power the cause of peace. I shall
not merely talk about my hatred
Of war.
OF course this Nation will never
be guilty Of war Of aggression.
We have no territorial ambitions.
We have no intention of interfer-
ing with any nation. Our real
danger in the future, as in the
past, lies in being drawn into a
war not of our own making. Our
first problem, then, is to consider
what can be done to avert war
throughout the world; our second,
to consider our own policy If war
should come. aa-
Since the Great War the world
has been working on the idea Of
a collective security through the
League of Nations. But the League
has failed. Failed for reasons
that certainly have become obvious
in the light of experience. The
League Covenant assumed that in
every war it would be simple to
point the finger Of justice at the
aggressor. Then all nations would
make common cause and over
whelm the aggressor in short
struggle. With this certain fate
. it was hoped no nation would ven-
ture to break the peace.
But as the events of recent years,
and especially of the last few
months, have shown, the matter is
not nearly so simple as this. Va
rious causes have increasingly di-
vided the nations into two great
camps. If the methods provided
In the League Covenant were
really adopted, these two camps
would become hostile alliances.
more or less equal, in another ter
rible war tragedy. As I have said,
we cannot use war to end war.
But even if the League program
Is unavoidable. the outlook Is still
far from hopeless. There Is q
plan for peace which has the sane
ton of both great age and modern
usefulness. I refer to the settle
ment of international disputes be-
fore they reach an acute stage by
the peaceful methods of media
ton and arbitration.
Mediation always has been the
first resort. 1t still can be used
effectively.