Evening star., 1937-11-15
Mcdonald Urges U. S. to
Push Efforts for Respect
OF International Law,
RECORD CROWD GREETS
CIVIC FORUMS OPENING
Former League Of Nations Official
Declares Fascist Dictators
Are Yet Unsatisfed.

law and the preservation of peace by
persistently stressing principles Of in
ternational morality. James G. Nc
Donald, former League of Nations High
Commissioner for German Refugees.
told Town Hall last night.
He coupled this advice with the
warning that democracies must show
some sign Of willingness to stem ag-
gression and uphold law in the face Of
indications that the Fascist dictators
are far from being satisfied with their
present conquests.
The address by Mr. Mcdonald who
now is member of the editorial staff
Of the New York Times. was on the topic
The Present Crisis in Europe" and
lnaueurated the fourth season of the
popular civic forum at its new home
in the Rialto Theater.
Record Crowd Attends.
Huston Thompson. president ,f the
Board of Trustees. presided over ar
audience which he estimated At more
than l.500. the largest crowd ever to
attend Town Hall meeting
Taking up the role the United States
should play in solving the ills of the
world. Mr.. Mcdonald insisted that it
can not be proved that isolation is de-
sirable or even possible for the United
States. but coupled this with the warn
ing that there is no way for the United
SfQfpC ~ ,,,
Europe unless there is leadership in
Great Britain.
Two oceans separate N from
Europe and Asia" he declared, land
any European statesman who thinks
the United States should take the lead
ership in either region is proving him.
self utterly unrealistic
Our steps toward the development
OF international Law cannot be fur
thered by efforts OF other nations to
make us plsv role other than that
which nature intended"
Cause Of Crises.
Mr.. Mcdonald attributed the series
! Of crises which have troubled Europe
since 1881 to two sets of causes. in
the background the failures and dis
appointments in the work Of the
peace makers: in the foreground the
ambitions and methods of tine dicts-
tors of Central Europe.
+ The causes which today threaten
peace issue from Germany and Italy,"
he explained. Their methods of
bluf1s. threats and ultimata are tn.
methods of men willing TO risk war
rather than be thwarted."
Listing three principles Of the
pea acemakers at Versailles, the speaker
showed the failure of each. first the
conception of peaceful change as en-
bodied in Article XIX of the League
Covenant: second, disarmament, car
ried out only with respect to Germany.
and third. collective security. which
he considers to have failed to dis.
courage or halt aggression or punish
the aggressor
The relationship of democracy to
Fascism occupied a considerable por-
ton of the discussion between Mr..
Mcdonald and members pf the panel.
particularly Ernest Galarza. lecturer
on economics.
During the panel discussion Mr..
Galarza challenged the speakers con-
tention that democracy is retreatinz
before Fascisn1 in Spain and insisted
that it will not so retreat in Latin
America
Course for DemocrarieA.
Mr.. McDonalds reply vas that the
demoCracies must make Up their
minds what to do and must show a
willingness to act.
"At some stage democratic powers
must make clear they will yield no
further" he declared. evokins ap-
plause from the audience
Mr.. Mcdonald cited the fusion VIC
tory in New York City as an example
OF what can be done to make democ-
racy work when the citizen takes the
trouble to make it work.
The speaker contrasted the domina-
tion of American foreign policy by
President Roosevelt advised by Sec
retary of State Hull and Undersecre-
tary Of State Welles. with the person
alistic role of Hitler and Mussolini
In the foreign relations of GERMANY
and Italy.
Propaganda Of FaSciStS.
After discounting the importance
OF the Fascist International as en-
bodied in the Italo-German-J japanese
anti-Communism agreement. Mr.. Nc
Donald expressed greater disturbance
at the pride those powers take in
propaganda against democracy, not
only in its practice. but in its theory
Posing the question of why the
democracies have repeatedly retreated
before the threats of the Fascist pow
ers since the invasion of Manchuris
in 1881. Mr.. Mcdonald cited the
difficulty for democracies to make
up their minds. and the necessity for
them to take account Of differences
Of opinion.
This division Of opinion WAS par
ticularly manifest in Great Britain,
he said. where Conservative gov
ernment had to take account Of con-
siderable Labor and Liberal factions.
Besides Mr.. Galarza. members Of
the panel were Edward Weintal. for
mer secretary of the Polish Legation.
Herbert E. Wright. professor of inter
national law. Catholic University, and
Senator James p. Pope Of Idaho. MEM
Der of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.
Raymond Leslie Buell.. president Of
the Foreign Policy Association. will
speak next week on What Is Amer
ica's Responsibility in the World
Crisis?"
Mrs Pearl Hauer will present an
organ recital each Sunday evening
before the meetings are called 70