Evening star., 1938-02-20
Sound Foreign Policy.

Sound Foreign Policy.
Timely observations about the inter-
national situation, which may become
even more explosive before todays sun
sets at Berlin, were forthcoming at
Des Moines last night from Secretary
Hull, in an address before the National
Farm Institute. As might have been
expected from the statesman who is
devoting himself to economic disarma-
ment, he concentrated on expounding
the philosophy and reporting the results
Of his reciprocal trade program.
The latter thoroughly establish the
soundness of Judge Hull's claim that he
Is pursuing policy which is not only
redounding to the advantage of Amer
ican industry and agriculture, but bene-
hting all those other countries which
have entered into give-and-take agree
ments with the United States. The
Secretary of State strikes the note
which underlies his zeal when he says
that prosperity and peace 60 hand in
hand. To promote one is to promote
the other. The economic well-being of
the people is the greatest single protec-
tion against social unrest, civil strife,
war-mongering and war;" And he as
pertinently adds: In combating the
worldwide trend toward economic isola-
ton, We are working for peace"
1t is naturally when the cabinet officer
directly responsible for conduct of our
foreign policy turns to the current phase
OF his task that Secretary Hull is on
ground which rivets major attention.
At no time since the Senate preserved
the United States from involvement In
the vagaries and vicissitudes of the
pusillanimous League of Nations have
external relations SO absorbed the coun-
try. They should do so, for nothing less
than the peoples lives, honor and pri-
vate fortunes is at stake. Seldom before,
In times Of so-called peace, has there
been greater need for sagacity, courage
and vigilance on the bridge where
foreign policy is charted.
Cordell Hull's speech in the Corn Belt
Is reassuring evidence that fortnight
helmsman is at the wheel. He is no
chicken-hearted isolationist; nor, VIII
sonian devotee that he once was, do
todays stern realities amid "a world in
high tension" find him afflicted by i'm
practical idealism. He seems to thrust
straight at certain of our die-hard
irreconcilables who, with blurred vision,
see salvation for this country only In
aloofness from a world in travail, and
labor under the delusion that, powerful
and peace-craving as we are, we can
paddle our own canoe in serene certainty
that danger will never overtake us. as
long as we let others stew in their own
Juice and exclusively wallow in our
domestic brand of the same.
It would be difficult to epitomize in
terser or more convincing terms the
international course Of the United States
at this critical hour than it is set forth
Ill Wlldb uCSCl WOO w VIC hAAVWA 0o WIG
Hull Doctrine. I'VE should be gov
erned," he declares, "in our relations
with other nations, by those funda-
mental principles of justice, morality,
goodwill and friendliness which, in
civilized international relationships, un-
derlie order under law and with economic
security as its chief foundation. We
should exercise every ounce of our moral
influence In urging other nations to be
governed, in their international rela-
tionships, by these same principles.
Without entering into any entangling
hvolvements or commitments, we should
cooperate to every practicable extent
with other peace-seeking nations toward
keeping these vital principles alive every
where. We should maintain adequate
defensive forces to the end that this
Nation will be respected throughout the
world. At the same time we should
stand unalterably for general limitation
and reduction of ornaments"