The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-30
THE PRICE OF PEACE

Inc TACT that the British Foreign Sec
rotary, Anthony Eden, is openly talking
about the benefits to be derived from a
trade treaty with the United States is an
encouraging sign that responsible states
men are beginning to appreciate the i'm
portance of world trade as factor for
peace. .sesia -.oele
Mr.. Eden spoke with particular ref
erence to the benefits that would accrue to
the nations of the world through the de-
velopmnt of better commercial relations
He was, in. essence, endorsing the trade
policy of our own Secretary of State, Cor
dell Hull. Inasmuch as British imports
amount to nearly one-fifth of world buy
ing it will be a distinct forward step if
that nation works with the United States
in common purpose.
American imports, amounting to IL
per cent of world imports, are being grad
ually broadened as the people of the
United States begin to comprehend the
truth about our world relationship. Grad
ually, we are learning that the people of
the world cannot buy from us unless they
are able, in return, to sell to us. While
one nation may not exactly even its inn
ports and exports in trading with any
other the balance is effected in total trade
There are many nations that must ac-
complish a close balance if they buy
abroad. This does not apply to the United
States, which has become a great creditor
nation with huge investments in foreign
countries which have to shape their ma
tional and international economy in accord
ance with their ability to secure inter-
national exchange This can be had for
gold, through the sale of goods or the rem
dering of service.
The cause of peace, as has been said
before, can be served intelligently by the
development of commercial interests be-
tween the nations of the world on a basis
of equality to all. Peace cannot be per-
manent when nations seek desperately to
take advantage of others and through the
use of force to obtain unfair economic
gains. Moreover, the great nations which
have run ahead of the rest of the world
in material things must evince some will
lingness to let others have. an opportunity
to do for their people what has been done
in the fortunate lands.
Peace has its price and those of US
who desire peace must be willing to pay
the necessary price If we are not, then
we must be ready to give battle. The
backward peoples of the world, the So
called have-not nations and countries dis
eliminated against will not willingly ac-
cept forever an unequal status. They will
probably go to war before making per-
manent what they consider injustice but
just as surely they will prefer to secure
their advancement through peaceful meth
DDS if there is any promise that peaceful
methods will obtain justice
A policy of isolation, such as that adj
vocated by many people in the United
States, will in the long run produce en-
mites that will lead to conflict. In addi-
ton, it will dislocate domestics economy,
leading to permanent regulation of pro-
duction and the eventual RECOMMENDATION of
the activity of men and women every
where We do not want these evils in
America but we will have them unless we
are sensible enough to logically develop
and follow another course.