The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-04-28
Appeal of Humanity
Cleveland Plain Dealer

Franklin D. Roosevelt adopts a role highly cred
liable to himself and useful to mankind in his message
to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini He is the only
person in the whole world who could take the role with
equal chance of success.
The President speaks for hundreds of millions of
people most of them voceless who abhor the thought
of war and who love and desire peace, but will never
teess become its helpless victims if war should come
In brief the President appeals directly to the two
European dictatoTs most responsible for the present
give the people of all nations breathing speein
order that the issues threatening disaster may be
considered in camness and offers in return personally
10 seek an agreement with some 80 powers obey the
conditions Of snch respite.
Mr.. Roosevelt does not speak delegated rep
resentative of the United States Situations like the
present defy meaningless conventionalities.
He speaks, rather as an individual as the tenn
porary occupant of the most influential political office
in the world as great humanitarian and man con-
spicuousy possessing the courage of his convictions
AS the President points out in his timely and
dramatic appeal the present moment is opportune
for all parties in interest to suspend hostile designs
in the interests of common welfare.
No armies are on the march, No ultmatums are
pending No face-saving devices are required
If Hitler and Mussolini will as Mr., Roosevelt sug-
gests give positive assurance that for the period OF
years more there shall be no further aggression
their part and if the other nations will give like
assurance a wave of relief and of new confidence
would sweep over the world worth more to humanity
than all the possible conquests of hundred marching
armies,
Neither Germany nor Italy is asked to give up any
thing it has already attained. The future, and not
the past is the Presidents concern Regardless Of
what one thinks of the wping out Of Ethiopia Austria
and the Czechsand the world opinion is fixed in con-
demnaton of 1.-THE immediate problem relates not to
history made but to history in the making.
The world will recognize the truth of Mr.. Roose-
ves observation that Americans speak not through
selfishness or fear or weakness but with the
voice of strength and with friendship for mankind
What will be the answer of the dctators? One
may we'll abstain from prophecy.
E Whether the German and the italian agree TO the
Roosevelt suggestion turn deaf to this cry for
relief from fear and the burdens of armament the
President has put in reasonable understandable SEN
fences hope which finds resting place in millions OF
hearts. He offers program simple, just and i'm
measlrably important to the welfare of the world.
1t is not democracy alone which asks for peace
and a Qualification of purposes 1t is the masses OF
people under various forms of government.
The world does not want, mankind cannot afford,
civilization might not survive the measure of disaster
general war would entail. No one better than
the President realizes this. No one better than he
could point the way avoidance of the catastrophe
Europe's dctators given the chance to make
good THEN assertions that mere conquest is not their
aim Hundreds Of millions of men, women and chill
dren frightened at the thought of war, hope they will
accept the chance.