Evening star., 1936-12-06
ny tie Associated Press.

The primary purpose Of this
conference is to Danish war from
the Western Hemisphere.
In its earnest pursuit of this
great undertaking it Is necessary
at the outset to visualize numerous
dangerous conditions and practices
in general international affairs to
the extent that they bear upon
and affect. the work Of this con-
ference.
1t is manifest that every country
today is faced with a supreme
alternative. Each must play its
part in determining whether the
world will slip backward toward
war and savagery; or whether it
can maintain and will advance the
level of civilization and peace.
None can escape its responsibility.
The 81 American republics cam
not remain unconcerned by the
grave and threatening conditions
in many parts Of the world. Our
convocf ton here in Buenos Aires
utters this hemisphere's common
voice Of its interest, nay. its intense
concern, over the determination of
this momentous question.
The repercussions of wars and
preparations for wars have been
so universally disastrous that it is
now as plain as mathematical truth
that each nation in any part of
the world is concerned in peace
In every part Of the world.
The nations of all the Americas,
through their chosen delegates.
have assembled to make careful
survey and analysis of all aspects
of their responsibilities; to take
account of their common duties,
and to plan accordingly for the
safety and welfare of their
peoples.
The Western Hemisphere must
now face squarely certain hard
realities. For the purpose of our
undertaking we must frankly
recognize that for some time the
forces Of militarism have been in
the ascendant in a large part of
the world; those of peace have
been correspondingly on the de-
, cline.
Common Sense
Dictates Caution.
We should be lacking in common
sense If We ignored the plain fact
that the effects of these forces will
unavoidably have direct impact
upon all of us. We should be lack
ing in ordinary caution if we fail
to counsel together for our COM
mon safety and welfare.
1t is bad enough when many
statesmen and peoples close their
minds and memories to the awful
lesson taught by the millions of
soldiers sacrificed In the World
War: the shattered cities. the des-
olated fields and all the other ma
terial, moral and spiritual ravages
OF that conflict. Still worse, that
war has brought in its train
wounds to mans heart and spirit,
national hatreds and fears, the
dislocation or destruction of indis-
pensable political and govern
mental structures and the COL
lapse or cool abandonment of
former high standards of national
conduct.
The supreme tragedy is COM
pleted by the breakdown of the
commerce Of mind and culture, the
attempt to isolate the nations of
the earth into sealed compart-
ments, all Of which have made
war a burden not to be endured
by mankind.
Delegates Of the American ma
tions, meeting here In the face of
these grave and threatening world
conditions, must realize that mere
words will not suffice. From every
wise and practical viewpoint,
concrete peace planning, peace
views and peace objectives are i'm
perative.
We must quicken our words and
our hopes into specific, embrace
Ing program to maintain peace.
Such q program, adequately i'm
plemented, should constitute an
armory OF peace. It should COM
prise a structure affording all
practical means for safeguarding
peace.
At q time when many other
governments or peoples fail or fear
to proclaim and embrace a broad
or definite peace or movement;
while their statesmen are shout
Ing threats of war, it Is all the
more necessary that we of the
Americas must cry out for peace;
keep alive the spirit of peace, live
by the rules Of peace and forthwith
perfect the machinery for its
maintenance.
Should we fail to make this
outstanding contribution it would
be a practical deSertion Of the
cause Of peace and a tragic blow
TO the hopes Of humanity.
In meeting this problem the
American republics are in a pc
culiarly advantageous situation.
There are among us no radical
differences, no profound mistrusts
or deep hatreds.
Constant Friendship
And Neighboriiness.
On the contrary, we are inspired
by the impulse to be constant
friends and the determination to
be peaceful neighbors.
We recognize the right of all
nations to handle their affairs In
any way they choose, and this
quite irrespective of the fact that
their way may be different from
our way. or even repugnant to our
ideas. But we cannot fail to take
cognizance of the international
aspect Of their policies when and
to the extent that they may re-
act upon us.
I, myself, am unalterably of the
view that q policy leading to war
may react upon us. In the fact
Of any situation directly leading
to war, can we therefore be other
than apprehensive?
In sustaining the firm determi-
nation that peace must be main