Evening star., 1939-04-29

CdnJ IIlIlB Ill +: =
Herr Hitlers ad- 8wW
dress to the -.
Reichstag was ~
not the relative
ly inconsequen- David Lawrence.
tial points as to how the message
of the President was addressed or
made public in the first place, or
whether the inquiry directed to
Hitler with respect to the smaller
powers was or was not impertinent
What is essential is that Herr
Hitler argues for economic Giving
space" and this involves world
wide economic readjustments which
the American Government has been
prepared from the outset to study
The United States is not con-
cerned with boundaries or political
disputes at all, and some Ameri-
cans here in Congress have made
the same mistake as Herr Hitler
in assuming that nations can lock
themselves up in their own terri
tories and remain unaffected by
the tides of economic unrest that
have swept the world.
The depression in the United
States in 1890 and 1881 was caused,
according to President Hoover, by
developments overseas. Mr.. RooSe-
welt was reluctant to accept this
doctrine, but today, as business in
the last several months has been
kept from recovering by reason of
European happenings, it is plain
that the big unemployment and re-
lief problems. will never be solved
in the United States until world
trade is restored, and this cannot
happen until political stability
comes to Europe.
The essential thing in the Hitler
reply is that it opens up debate
which will attract the attention of
the whole world What will Presi-
dent Roosevelt say in reply? Will
he address a joint session of Con-
gress and crystalline public opinion
on the issues? Will Mr.. Roosevelt,
by the restraint and calmness of his
response, and by careful reasoning
on every point raised, make rec
ord on behalf of peace which it will
be difficult for the German people
to disapprove and turn toward war?
Unparalleled Opportunity.
These questions will not be an
swered for several days, but the
opportunity that has come to Presi-
dent Roosevelt is unparalleled since
the time when President Wilson, by
a remarkable series of addresses to
the Congress. quickened the hearts
of peoples everywhere. Mr.. Will
sons failure to achieve his OBJ
jectives-the very things Mr.. Roose-
welt is being taunted about now by
Herr Hitler-may be traced to the
nationalistic policies of the French
and the unTillingness of the British
to stand by the American President
In the Paris conferences.
Many of the points made by Herr
Hitler about Americas refusal to
Join the League of Nations and use
the conference method to iron out
troubles that have led to war are
right and it will be interesting to
see whether the President will not,
in the interest of peace and good
faith, acknowledge some of those
points. 1t would be refreshing
example of frankness in interna-
tional relations and could not but
impress Germany with the sincerity
OF the American initiative.
There are various moves which
can be made to carry on the peace
program started by the President.
Great Britain and France can now
express themselves in formal mes
sages to Mr.. Roosevelt and agree or
disagree with various portions of
the Hitler address. They can give
the assurances which he asks and by
transmitting them direct to Mr..
Roosevelt the latter can assume the
role of friendly Intermediary and
carry forward the whole project.
There is one issue on which the
world will be glad to have enlight-
enment from the statesmen of the
democracies. 1t is whether in ter
ritory once gained by force other
nations must forever be denied
access to raw materials. If eco
nomic living space" is afforded.
then Herr Hitler is presumably not
concerned about political sover-
eighty. 1t is the desire for eco
nomic opportunity which he gives
as his principal reason for relying
on the threat of the sword.
Telling Questions Asked.
For whatever one may think of
the bluster or the satire or the
indignation which the German
chancellor exhibits in his address,
there can be no denying the fact
that he has himself asked a telling
question, 1t is whether the democ-
racies will exercise unselfishneSs
and forbearance and do justice to
the demands of Germany for res
toration of German colonies, thus
avoiding any need for the use of
physical force, and encouraging
general disarmament thereby, or
whether they will insist on what
has been called the" status quo"
The Hitler argument is that war
has always changed the status
quo" in the past and that peace
conferences held after wars have
not been just settlements. The
United States Government, through
the President, has an opportunity
to place before the world the prin-
ciple that whatever wars have done
in the past does not justify con-
tinued reliance on organized saw
agery as the only way to settle in
ternational disputes. But, in say
ing so, the American Government
may find it necessary to offer a
program of justice which by its
very outline will reveal ways and
means of providing the economic
living space" which apparently is
disturbing not only Germany but
is keenino Americas frada ,1ncot