Evening star., 1941-05-25
Revolution Abroad
Beyond u. ). Control,
Kennedy Asserts
Rejects Idea Of Role
Of Guurdiun Of Peace
From SeIf-Interest
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ATLANTA, May 24.-Joseph P.
Kennedy, former Ambassador to
Great Britain, urged tonight that
the United States not be deluded
by any claim that self-interest
should make us guardians OF the
peace of the rest of the world"
In an address at the Oglethorpe
University commencement exercises,
Mr.. Kennedy said "the crusaders
argument for war is the silliest of
all'' and asserted that democracy
cannot be imposed by force or
otherwise"
In our very attempt at this
colossal crusade" he said, 1--WE would
end in failure and disgrace abroad,
in disilluSionment and bankruptcy
at home -
I'VE cannot, my fellow Ameri-
cans, divert the tides of the mighty
revolution now sweeping Asia and
Europe They were not of our max
ing and they will not be subject to
our control, no matter how
courageously or exhaustingly we
strive to subject them
Warns Against Slogans.
He also urged the Nation to be-
ware of slogans and said this coun-
try should not become a belligerent
"iust because we hate Hitler and
love Churchill"
Facts are what the country needs,
not slogans" Mr.. Kennedy said
What is the state of our own de-
fense? What can we do If we de-
clare war? Where will we land
troops? What about Japan? What
will be the result of declaring war
in terms of our ability to help Eng
land?
The people who must suffer ana
give I'D their lives are entitled TO
know all the facts before their Juog-
ment can be won to the interven-
ZIONIST cause. It is a mockery OF
liberty TO withhold from democratic
people the essential facts upon which
this. the most awful decision OF our
times. must be based. We must have
the completest candor; we must have
the fullest disclosure; we must have
the freest debate"
Mr.. Kennedy said he was "particu-
larly unimpressed by the hysteria
which I suspect is consciously stlmu-
lated by the idea that We are in
danger of military attack"
This country was so situated, he
said. that "a direct attack on us
would require an armada mightier
than the power of man could create
No Argument for Involvement.
I'VE have gone to the aid Of
Britain not only because we believe
their cause to be just" he said. but
because the American stake in the
present war is the precious element
of time. But as Nation we should
not let our aid to Britain become
the argument for direct involve
ment."
The former Ambassador. who re-
called that when he resigned he said
he hoped to assist President RooSe-
velt in his ft-proclaimed desire
to stay out of war" asserted that.
although British victory would be
helpful from the viewpoint of this
country's foreign markets, it was
nonsense" to say that an Axis
victory spelled ruin.
From 80 to 95 per cent of our
trade is internal" he said. 90 .
If worse came to worse. We could
gear ourselves to an intelligent self
contained national economy and
still enjoy a fair degree of pros
perlty.
Would Ban Axis From Hemisphere.
But that worst must never be
permitted to include Axis domina-
tion-social, economic or military
Of any spot in the Western Hemis-
phere. In my definition of
the Western Hemisphere l include,
wish to add, any island which is
considered by our military experts
to be a threat to our security if the
Axis powers possess or dominate it."
He urged the graduates not to
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