Evening star., 1936-08-15

was a bitter end-in the work of the
general disarmament conference.
When it failed we sought a separate
treaty to deal with the manufacture
Of arms and the international traf-
f1c in arms. That proposal also came
to nothing. We participated-again
to the bitter end-in conference to
continue naval limitations. and when
it became evident that no general
treaty could be signed because of the
objections of other nations, we con-
cluded with Great Britain and France
conditional treaty of qualitative linn
itation which, much to my regret, al
ready shows signs of ineffectiveness
We shun political commitments
which might entangle us in foreign
wars; we avoid connection with the
political activities of the League of
Nations; but I am glad to say that
We have co-operated wholeheartedly
| in the social and humanitarian work
at Geneva. Thus We are a part of the
world effort to control traffic in mar
cotics, to improve international health
to help child welfare, to eliminate
double taxation and to better work
ing conditions and laboring hours
throughout the world.
Not Isolationists.
We are not isiolationistS except in
so far as we seek to isolate ourselves
completely from war. Yet we must re-
member that so long as war exists on
earth there will be some danger that
even the nation which most ardently
desires peace may be drawn into war
I have seen war. have seen war
on land and sea. I have seen blood
running from the wounded. / have
seen men coughing out their gassed
lungs. I have seen the dead in the
mud. have seen cities destroyed.
I have seen 200 limping. exhausted
men come out of line-the survivors
of a regiment of 1000 that went for
ward 48 hours before. I have seen
| children starving. :! have seen the
agony of mothers and wives. / hate
war.
have passed unnumbered hours.
shall pass unnumbered hours. think
ing and planning how war may be
kept from this Nation
/ wish could keep war from all
nations; but that is beyond my pow
er. I can at least make certain that
no act of the United States helps to
produce or to promote war. 1 can at
least make clear that the conscience
OF America revolts against war and
that any nation which provokes war
forfeits the sympathy of the people OF
the United States.
Many Causes for War.
Many causes produce war. There
are ancient hatreds, turbulent from.
tiers. the legacy Of old, forgotten, far.
OF things. and battles long ago." There
are newborn fanaticisms, convictions
on the part of certain people that they
have become the unique repositories
of ultimate truth and right.
A dark old world was devastated by
wars between conflicting religions. A
dark modern world faces wars between
conflicting economic and political
fanaticiSms in which are intertwinec
race hatreds. To bring it home, 1t is
as II within the territorial limits OF
the United States, AZ nations with A
forms of government, 48 customs bar
riers, 48 languages and 48 eternal and
different verities. were spending their
time and their substance in a frenzy
of effort to make themselves strong
enough to conquer their neighbors or
strong enough to defend themselves
against their neighbors.
In one field, that of economic bar
riers, the American policy may be. I
hope, of some assistance in discourag-
ing the economic source of war and
therefore contribution toward the
peace of the world. The trade agree
ments which we are making are not
only finding outlets for the products
of American fields and American fac
tories, but are also pointing the way
to the elimination of embargoes,
quotas and other devices which place
such pressure on nations not possess
ing great natural resources that to
them the price of peace seems less
terrible than the price of war.
We do not maintain that q more
liberal international trade will stop
war. but we fear that without a more
liberal international trade war Is a
natural sequence.
Congress Has Given Power.
The Congress of the United States
has given me certain authority to
provide safeguards of American neu-
trslity in case of war.
The President of the United States,
who, under our Constitution, Is vested
with primary authority to conduct
our international relations, thus has
been given new weapons with which
to maintain our neutrality.
Nevertheless-and I speak from q
long experience-the effective main
tenance Of American neutrality de-
pends today, as in the past, on the
wisdom and determination of whoever
at the moment occupy the Offices of
President and Secretary of State.
1t Is clear that our present policy
and the measures passed by the Con-
gress would In the event of q war on
some other continent reduce war profits
which would otherwise accrue to
American citizens. Industrial and
agricultural production for a war mar
ket may give immense fortunes to q
few men; for the Nation as q whole