Evening star., 1938-05-07
j. S.PEACE POLICY
HELD UNCHANGED
Hull Hints War Pact Is Dead,
but Denies Aiding Nazis'
Rearming Efforts.
Ry CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Secretary Hull stated today at a
press conference that the policies OF
the United States for the promotion
of peace and disarmament and for
the observance of treaties have not
altered in any way.
Answering questions of newspaper
correspondents regarding the assist
ance given by this country to the re-
srming of Germany. he produced Of
hcial figures indicating that the
amount of money spent by the Reich
In this country for ornaments is
negligible. OF the total of approx
imately 81 100000 devoted to the pur-
chase Of alleged war material. more
than 100000 were spent on airplane
motors and propellers for commercial
sirplanes.
Information from observers in Ger
many the Secretary of State added,
indicated that these motors had been
used indeed for the manufacture Of
commercial airplanes, most of which
have been sold to foreign countries
such as South Africa.
Hints Pact Dead.
These detailed figures were given
out by the Secretary of State in con-
tlnuatlon of Yesterdays press confer
ence, IN which the State Department
had been challenged that it encour-
ages indirectly the rearming Of mill
taristic nations
At that time Mr. Hull indicated the
treaty of Berlin between the United
States and Germany, signed at the end
Of the World War. was as imperative
as the treaty of Versailles, which was
thrown into discard by Adolf Hitler
In the spring Of 1884.
This indication came after lively
but entirely good-natured debate be-
tween the Secretary of State and
newspaper columnist, Drew Pearson,
at a press conference in the State
Department.
The Washington columnist took
issue with the policy of the State De-
partment to issue arms sale licenses
to the Reich. This. Mr.. Pearson con-
tended, was in contradiction to the
German American peace treaty in
which the clauses of the Versailles
treaty dealing with the rearmament
of Germany were bodily incorporated.
No Violation, He Says.
Secretary Hull contended the treaty
was not being violated since, while
Germany undertook the obligation not
to rearm. this country did not bind
itself not to sell her arms Secretary
Hull stated: 1T 'the treaty. does
not say anything about the United
States obligations to anybody
When Mr.. Pearson drew the Secre-
tary's attention to the letter Mr.. Hull
wrote on September II, 1888. in which
he stated that the violation of article
10 of the Versailles treaty by Ger
many would constitute not only a
violation of Germany's obligations TO
other parties but also a violation of
its treaty obligations to the United
States, Mr. Hull reiterated it did not
violate Americans obligations to any
nation.
Secretary Hull pointed out that at
the time he wrote the letter the sigma
tories of the Versailles treaty were still
tnslstent that Germany keep her treaty
obligations as provided in Article ITO.
In the light of that situation. this
country was not willing to break into
the course Germany and the sigma
tories of the Versailles treaty were pur-
suing at that time"
Now a Dead Letter.
Since 1888 many things have
changed. From the practical point of
view there is no doubt the Versailles
treaty is dead letter and by implica-
tion it would seem that our own treaty
uith Germany has no more than a
documentary value.
When Mr.. Pearson asked Mr. Hull
whether "our treaty with Germany has
been altered in any way the Secre-
tsry answered. Not to my knowledge
apart from the effect of the repudia-
ton of the Versailles treaty
Mr.. Hull took advantage of the con-
ference to ask the press not to deal
unfairly with high State Department
officials
He complained about what he called
unjust and libelous attacks against
certain immediate collaborators of the
Secretary of State. Mr.. Hull en-
deavored to dissipate the common be-
lief that there are little churches in
the State Department where each
high priest" is endeavoring to put
over his own policy. He emphasized
that whatever is done in the Depart
ment. the actions are the result of a
common understanding between the
trainers of Americas S foreign policies,
the President, the Secretary of State
and his close advisers.
This statement was prompted by
the fact that certain newspaper men
contended the neutrality policy toward
Spain-an embargo on the shipment
OF arms and ammunition to the bellig-
erents-was the exclusive policy Of
the counselor of the State Depart
n1ent. Walton Moore, who announced
that policy during Mr.. Hull's voyage to
South America. This was sternly de-
MED by Mr.. Hull. who emphasized
that the neutrality policy toward Spain
had been adopted by all the high off,
eials of the State Deparment-in-
Guiding himself-before Mr.. Hull and
Sumner Welles departed for South
America.