Evening star., 1938-03-18

or the Sanctlty OF international law
as it effects her citizens Is going to
make as big a mistake as did the
German admiralty in 1917. when it
proclaimed submarine warfare against
all merchant vessels flying any flag
and travelling anywhere to and from
the continent Of Europe.
Mr.. Hull made it very plain, Of
course, that the United States wants
peace and has made every effort to
support the established processes of
peaceful living in the world. But the
Secretary also pointed to the threats
OF international anarchy. the rising
tide Of violence and the continued dis
regard Of sacred obligations and cove
nants.
Europe and the Far East may read
into the address whatever they like
The British and French people will
derive much encouragement from the
speech though it does not 20 as far
as they doubtless would prefer The
reason why Great Britain and France
should feel cheered by the Hull speech
is that the United States proclaims
Its intention Of building up its armed
forces to protect its rights, and says,
In the same utterance, that disregard
Of American rights will not be tol-
Grated.
Significant Passage.
Perhaps the most significant pas
sage in the address and one which
Is susceptible of an important inter-
preta tion looking toward possible asso-
citation with democracies of the world
Is the following:
The maintenance of these prin-
siples that are Of concern to all ma
tons alike cannot and should not be
undertaken by any one nation alone.
Prudence and common sense dictate
that, where this and other nations
have common interests and common
objectives, we should not hesitate to
exchange information and to confer
With the governments of such other
nations and, in dealing with the prob
lens confronting each alike. to pro-
eeed along parallel lines-this Gov
ernment retaining at all times it's in
dependence Of judgment and freedom
OF action.
For nations which seek peace to
assume with respect to each other
attitudes Of complete aloofness would
serve only to encourage and virtually
invite on the part Of other nations,
lawlessly inclined, policies and actions
most likely to endanger peace
This comes very near making
To vi toi
We would associate ourselves with
them under certain circumstances.
America does not outline what those
circumstances might be, indeed, 'Secre-
tary Hull says the United States cam
not prepare and place before every
government Of the world a detailed
chart OF the course of policy and action
which this country will Or will not
; pursue under any particular set Of
circumstances"
U. s. Attitude in 1917.
1t must mean. on the other hand,
What. pushed or eoaded to extremes
by any action of the dictatorship
countries. the United States would not
hesitate to place her fleet alongside
that Of Great Britain and France to
accomplish at the earliest possible mo-
ment a respect for American rights.
This was precisely the attitude
which the United States took in 1917.
when, though refusing to become
known AZ an allied power" the on
cial documents always spoke of the
United States as an associate" Also.
IN making peace, the United States
even signed separate treaty 80 as to
remove all possible implication of a
continued relationship that could be
construed as an alliance"
Some observers may see in the Hull
speech belligerent note or a doc
trine that implies war Such a read
ing is unjustified so far as ANYTHING
that has happened as yet in Europe
or the Far East, but, If the dictator
snip countries imperU the lives of
American citizens or deliberately or
wantonly do damage to American in.
terests, then the belligerent note may
well become concrete.
No Ordinary Proclamation,
Secretary Hull's speech was no ordi-
nary proclamation OF American pur.
pose. 1t was studied declaration
designed to justify our increase in
naval armament and at the same time
10 answer those critics who want to
know what Americas foreign policy
really Is. 1t so 'happens that the
was delivered in an eventful
week and fortunately will be read in
the atmosphere of the biggest single
act OF laWlessness in modern times
the seizure OF weak independent
state by stronger neighbor-but the
original idea behind the making Of
the address was to outline carefully
the tenets of American foreign policy.
That national policy can be expressed
in a single sentence substantially as
follows: I'VE want peace, we will
strive for peace, but If any nation
dares to provoke us or violate our
rights we will fight to protect our
people"
If ultimately this means that the
three emocracies-France, Britain
and the United States-.find their re-
spective rights all violated at the same
time, 1t may mean also that the job
left undone in 1919 at the peace table
may some day have to be carried for
ward by common undertaking that
will truly make the world safe for
democracy, including the democracy
called the United States of America.