Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-10-22


Tent Of President RoosspsIfi
aSSrsH 10 the Foreign Policy A
soeiatioas
Tonight am speaking as 3
guest of the Foreign Policy ASso-
cistion-a distinguished organlZa-
ton composed of Americans OF
all shades of political opinion.
l am going 10 talk about our
American foreign policy.
am talking without rancor or
snap judgment
/ an speaking without losing
my temper or losing my head.
When the first World War was
ended, ! believed believe now
that enduring peace in the world
has not a chance unless this ma
ton is willing 70 Cooperate in
winning il and maintaining il. l
thought then-I know now--that
We have TO back our words with
deeds.
A quarter of a century ago we
helped 10 save our freedom but
we failed 10 organize the kind OF
world in which future generations
could live in freedom Oppor-
tunlty knocks again. There is no
guarantee that il will knock a
third time.
VICTORY PLEDGED
Today, Hitler and the Nazis
continue the fight - desperately,
inch by inch. and may continue to
60 so all the way 10 Berlin
And we have another more i'm
portant engagement in Tokyo. No
matter how long or hard the road
we must travel. our forces will
fight their way there under the
leadership of Macarthur and
Nimitz.
All of our talking about foreign
policy IN this war must be eehdi-
toned by the fact that millions Of
our American boys are today
fighting. many thousands OF miles
from home. for the defense OF our
country and the perpetuation of
our American ideals. And there
are still many hard and bitter
battles 10 he fought.
The leaders of this nation have
ALWAYS held that concern for our
national security does not end al
our borders. President Monroe and
every American president follow
ing him were prepared TO use
force. If necessary. 10 assure the
Independence Of other American
nations threatened by aggressors
frenn across the seas.
The principle has not changed
though the world has. Wars are no
longer fought from horseback. or
from the decks of sailing ships.
II was with recognition of that
fact that in 1898 we took. as the
basis for our foreign relations, the
good neighbor policy--the princl-
plp Of the neighbor who, resolutely
rcgrecting himself. equally re-
spccts the rights of others.
US. PROVEN PEACEFUL
We and the other American re-
publics nave made the good neigh
Dor policy real in this hemisphere.
II is my conviction that this policy
can he, and should be, made uni
VerSal
At inter-American conferences,
beginning at Montevideo in 1888,
and continuing down TO date, we
have made IL clear TO this hemi-
sphere that we practice what we
preach.
Our action in 1884 with respect
10 Philippine independents was
another step in making good the
same philosophy which animated
the good neighbor policy
As | said two years ago:
'1 like TO think that the his
tory Of the Philippine Islands In
the last ~ years provides In n
very real sense a pattern for the
future Of other small nations
and peoples of the world. II Is a
pattern Of what men Of good
will look forward to in the fu-
ture."
! cite another early action in
the field of foreign policy of which
] I'm proud That was the recog-
milton in 1888 of Soviet Russia.
For is year. before then the
American people and the Russian
peonle had no practical means of
communicating with each other.
We re-established those means.
And today we are fighting with
the Russians against common foes
and we know that the Russian
contribution 10 victory has been,
and will continue 10 be, gigantic.
However. certain politicians.
now very prominent in the Re
publican party. have condemned
our recognition.
am impelled 10 wonder how
Russia would have survived
against German attack if these
same people had had their way.
PEACE PROMISE DIES
After the last warm the POI
litlcal campaign of 1920 the iso-
latonist old guard profeSSed TO be
enthusiastic about international
cooperation.
While campaigning for votes in
1920 Senator Harding said that
he favored with all his heart an
association of nations so organ
lied and so participated in as 10
make the actual attainment OF
peace a reasonable possibility"
However. after President Hard
ings election. the association of
nations was never heard of again.