Evening star., 1937-11-03
By the AsSocia ted Press,

By the Associa ted Press.
The State Department made public
today the following text Of the speech
OF Norman H. Davis, American dele
gate, at the opening Of the Nine-power
Conference at Brussels:
We have come to this conference
to collaborate in efforts toward an
objective for which all peoples and all
governments should strive. That OBJ
jective is peace.
Sixteen years ago there assembled
at Washington the delegates to con-
ference which had been called for the
limitation of armaments and to find
a solution of Pacific and Far Eastern
problems of international concern,
and thereby to safeguard peace in the
Far East. After a few months Of
careful consideration of the problems
involved, those delegates signed q
number of interrelated agreements
and resolutions, which, it was be-
lieved, would assure til, legitimate
rights and interests OF all the coun-
tries represented, which provided for
various common and reciprocal con-
cessions and which committed the
signatories to pursue policies of peace.
In that group Of agreements was q
treaty relating to principles and poll
cies to be followed in matters con-
corning China. That treaty dealt
with questions which are fundamental;
it reaffirmed principles to which most
Of the signatories had already-some
peatedly-committed themselves; it
specified not only what should be the
obligations of the other powers, but
what should be the obligations Of
China; 1t was ratified by all Of the
nine powers present at the conference
and 1t has since been adhered to by
five other powers. In that treaty there
was a provision that. whenever a situ-
alton should arise, which, in the opin-
ion of any Of the parties, involved the
application OF the stipulations OF the
treaty and rendered desirable discus
sion of such application there should
be full and frank communication be-
tween the contracting powers con-
cerned
Conflict Interests Whole World.
1t is in accordance with that ex-
press provision that we meet here to-
day. Our present interest, however,
would be real, even If there were no
such treaty and no such provision.
The hostilities which are now being
waged in the Far East are of serious
concern, not only to Japan and China,
but to the entire world.
For several decades the nations of
the world have been seeking to evolve
methods to achieve the twofold objec-
tive of preventing resort to armed
force and, If unhappily it has been
resorted to, finding means to bring
the conflict to an end. Various meth
DDS have been proposed. Various in
struments have been signed. In all of
these there has appeared one COM
mon feature, namely, that where con-
troversies develop, solution must be
sought by pacific means. To this proc
ess SO nations committed themselves
by the pact of Paris of 1928.
Peace once envisaged only by ideal
lists has become a practical matter of
vital self-interest to every nation. The
day has long since gone by when the
effects of an armed conflict are con-
fined to the participants. It Is all too
apparent that under modern condi-
tions the human and material sacri-
fees and the moral and spiritual costs
exacted by the use of armed force
not only fall as . heavy and often
times crushing burden upon the ma
tions directly involved in the con-
fiict but have grave repercussions upon
all nations OF the world.
Conflict Impairs Treaties.
Armed conflict wherever it may oc-
cur impairs everywhere the immeasur-
able value of freely negotiated treaties
and agreements as effective and relia-
bic safeguards Of national security and
international peace. The resulting loss
of confidence in such instruments
leads nations to seek safety in conn
petitive armaments and to devote q
disproportionate share OF their re-
sources thereto. thus impoverishine
some nations and inexorably lower
ing the standards of life to all.
Not only does resort to armed force
result In needless loss Of human life
and shock every humane instinct Of
mankind but its disorganizing effects
fall upon all phases of constructive
human activity, national as well as
International.
AS q result OF the amazing develop
ments IN science and industry there
has come about an interdependence
among nations, as q result of which
the effects of any major disturbance
are felt everywhere As our modern
civilization has evolved, as it has de-
veloped new methods and processes,
as 1t has raised the standard Of liv-
ing of hundreds OF millions Of human
beings all over the world, it has be-
come increasingly sensitive to shock.
A dislocation in any part Of its inter-
related mechanism throws other parts
out of gear. It creates need for prompt
and skillful attention at the point Of
dislocation in order to prevent further
disturbance and possible breakdown
Of the whole machinery.
International trade and financial
relations, which are indispensable to
human welfare, Immediately suffer
from the disorsantEing effects Of 70.