The Washington times., 1937-07-05
PITTMAN ASKS
PUBLIC AID TO
BLOCK WAR

w fLHC AVkCF ~" w
Dcr threatens other parts OF the
world. This is the opinion OF
Senator Key Pittnlun (Dl OF Ne
Doda. chairman of the SenGte's
Foreion Relations Committee.
In this article he begS the peace.
lovino people of the t0orld to re-
double their efforts to block hos
Titles. Another tDGr, he D1rnS,
mill driue civilization back into
the Dark AgeS)
BY SENATOR KEY PITTMAN
Chairman, Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee
Written Expressly for international
News Service
The United States, entering the
162nd year of its independence
is more powerful at home and
more dominant throughout the
world than at any other time III
its history.
We have in the last four years
met the supreme test Of our demo-
cratic form of Government. In
1899, our monetary and financial
system had so far broken down
that chaos reigned; unempioy'
ment was substantially universal;
the temper and patience OF our
people was rapidly reaching the
breaking point, y.
Today, Notwithstanding the To-
cal controversies between capital
and labor for an adjustment OF
benefits under our increased pros.
perity, our economic system is
sound, our banks are safe and the
majority Of our industries are
meeting a steadily increasing pros
perity.
War Spirit DeplOred
We deeply deplore the fact chat
the same sound and happy condi'
tions do not exist In many parts
of the world. War mania seems to
have superseded common sense
and reason and the catastrophe
experience Of the recent past 10
forgotten.
Wars and threats Of wars are
dominating every other enterprise
and thought in many of the power.
full nations of the world. There
is no spirit of compromise, no de-
sire apparently to seek peaceful
adjustment of any controversies.
The League Of Nations has CON-
pletely broken down. Every treaty
and compact for the preservation
of peace has been challenged and
ignored, If not totally abandoned.
Warns of War Disaster
In such actions and spirit, the
monetary and financial systems of
governments are rapidly being de-
stroyed. If war breaks out any
where in Europe or Asia, it will
be more far-reaching and devastat-
ing in, its effect and more diSaS-
trous to all nations than the World
War. It will drive civilization
back hundreds of years.
We hope, as we have hoped, that
some of the more stable, reason
able and peace-loving people Of
Europe will succeed, through the
strenuous efforts they are making,
in avoiding the great calamity.
Our Government, ever since the
World War, has urged treaties,
whose purpose was the peaceful
adjustment of international con-
troversies. We have made great
sacrifices in the limitation of
ornaments and have continued to
urge such limitations. We have
not been successful.
Neutrality Measures
We have attempted to bring
about the sterilization of none.
tary exchange We have only
been partially successful.
The reason for this is obvious.
Governments cannot expend all
of their money and resources and
labor in the preparation for war
and hope to maintain monetary,
economic or financial stability.
Continuance of such conditions
means bankruptcy.
In this case, political stabiliZa-
ton must precede economy and
monetary sterilization.
We cannot to any great extent
aid any foreign government under
such conditions. We have on our
own behalf enacted peace 'egisla.
ton, commonly known as neu-
trality legislation, for the purpose
of controlling our own citizens in
future wars when interna 5ional
law ceases to exist. We intend to
keep our citizens out of a foreign
war, not of our own making, Of
which we disappEove and over
which we have no control.
Safety Sole Interest
There is nothing that we can
practically and safely do in the
settlement of foreign controver-
sizes. Our moral assistance is not
desired. Our physical assistance
we will not grant.
We are on terms of friendship
with every people.
We intend to maintain and JUS
tify these friendships,
We will cooperate with any
neutral government so far as we
may safely do so.