Evening star., 1939-02-19
7 ext of Roosevelt o|ks
Peace Called Pon-Americun Goal:
Good-Neiehbor Policy Reosserted
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
KEY WEST, Fla, Feb. 1S.-The
tert OF President Roosepelt's radio
greeting to the officials of the San
Francisco Golden Gate Exposition:
Commissioner Creel. President
Cutler, friends of the Golden Gate
International Exposition:
Although I have commissioned
Mr.. Roper to act and speak for me
in the ceremonies that mark the
opening of the Golden Gate Inter-
national Exposition, cannot forgo
this further and more personal ex-
preston of my deep interest. From
what saw with my own eyes last
July. can we'll imagine the beauty
of the completed undertaking. and
look forward with real eargerness
to the visit this coming summer
that I have promised myself.
Were the West and things
Western less close to my heart, I
would still be constrained to wish
the exposition a success even be-
yond the hopes of its builders, for
the Federal Government is in close
partnership with this national en-
terprise.
One Government agency has
helped financially to build the Bay
Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge
both of them engineering mar
vels of the century: another agency
has helped with men and funds to
raise this new island from the ocean
bed; and still another has assisted
in the construction of the hangers
and other buildings that will re-
main when the exposition ends.
and the site reverts to it's intended
purpose-a great airport immeas-
urably helpful to the commerce of
the Pacific Coast, and a vital in
tegral part of our national defense
Treasure Island, with an area of
more than 400 acres, is America S
newest insular possession. It is
an outstanding example of terri
torial extension without aggression.
I am quite open and unashamed
in my liking for expositions. They
perform a distinct service in ac-
quainting people with our progress
in many directions and with what
other people are doing. They stimu-
late the travel that results inevitably
in larger degree of national unity
by making Americans know their
America and their fellow Americans.
I have never thought it unfortu-
nate that New York and San
Francisco picked the same year for
their world fairs. Instead of one
incentive, people have two, and it
is my sincere hope that 1899 will
witness a swing around the whole
American circle-that will give some
realization of our resources and our
blessings, and, more important, en-
phasize the essential unity of
American interests. Getting ac-
quainted with the United States is
about as good habit as I know.
Furthermore, the San Francisco
and New York World Fairs do not
in any way duplicate each other.
Their themes and their exhibits
cover different fields-make differ
ent appeals. Most decidedly, if you
have seen one, you have not, in ef-
feet, seen the other also.
The II Western States which are
partners in this exposition consti-
tute a great area which is of in
calculable Importance to the pros
perity of the United States. The
vigor and boldness of these States
"a direct inheritance from path
finding forbears-is equally helpful
in the social pioneering that has
been commanded by today's necessi-
ties.
Many times, in the elaboration Of
what call the good neighbor pol
icy, have stressed the point that
the maintenance of peace in the
Western Hemisphere must be the
first concern of all Americans
North Americans, South Americans
and Central Americans-for nothing
is more true than that we here in
the New World carry the hopes of
millions of human beings in other
less fortunate lands. BY setting an
example of international solidarity,
cooperation, mutual trust and mu-
tual helpfulness, we may keep faith
alive in the heart of anxious and
troubled humanity, and at the same
time lift democracy high above the
ugly turbulence of autocracy.
And so, when I wish the Golden
Gate international exposition all
possible success, it is as an instru-
ment OF international good will as
well as an expression of the mate
riai and cultural progress of our own
West and of our Pacific Ocean
neighbors.