AMERICA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 9

AMERICA’S FOREIGN POLICY

DECLARATION BY PRESIDENT COOLIDGE ‘ . ./ • •*;' .■’’ ” i NO IMPERIALISTIC DESIGNS CHERISHED COST TO THE NATION OF THE GREAT WAR President Coolidge, when dedicating a monument on Armistice Day,'made interesting references to the foreign policy of the Unitecl States. .He that the country., had profited from the world war. The United States had maintained its detached independent position jn order that it might be prepared in its own way to serve thdse needing its help. The President added that he could see no prospect of . the country adhering to the World Court.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright,

(Rec. November 11, 5.5 p.m.) . 1 ■ '-.New' York 1 ,-’ November 11..’.; In the course ,of a speech made wbert s dedicating ■a. monument on - Armistice Day, at Kansas Gity, President Coolidge said: “Our country has never sought to be a military Power.. It cherishes no imperialistic designs. It is content with its own territory and to prosper through the development of its. own resources. While our Government is thoroughly committed to ..a policy of permanent international peace, it is therefore committed to a policy of .-adequate national defence. Our Government stands also thoroughly ' committed to a policy of avoiding competition in'armaments. We do not desire .to enter into competition with any other country in the maintenance of land and sea forces.” PROBLEM OF INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE. In considering the problem of international defence, the President said it •' was estimated that the resources of the United States amounted to four hunf dred thousand million dollars. He continued : ‘‘To carry on the last conflict we borrowed in excess of twenty-six-thousand million dollars,, This great debt has been reduced to about nineteen thousand million dollars. So long as that is unpaid it stands as a tremendous impediment against the abiL, ity of America to defend itself by military operations. It is 1 more and more becoming, the conviction of students of adequate defence that in a ,time . of national. peril the Government should be cloaked with authority to call into service all the man power and all property under such terms that it may avoid making a sacrifice of one and a profiteer of another. Any l ? future policy of conscription should be all-inclusive. NO PROFIT FROM WORLD WAR. "It is often -said that we profited from the world war, We did not profit,

’ but we lost from it, in common with all ’countries. In the mere matter of our national debt; it will require heavy sacrifices,, extended over a period-of about 30 years, to recoup those losses,It ■is not .only because of these enormous losses, which were suffered alike by ourselves and the rest of the world, that we desire peace, but because we look to the arts of peace rather than to war as a means whereby, mankind will finally develop its greatest spiritual, power. We shall avoid . any national spirit-of suspicion, distrist, 'and hatred toward other nations. NOT LIKED IN EUROPE. “They tell us we are not liked in Europe. Such reports are undoubtedly exaggerated. We are a creditor nation. We ate more prosperous than some others? Our Government has steadily maintained a policy of recognition of the sanctity of international obligations and the performance of international covenants. Moderation is a mutual international obligation. The fact .that our position is strong, pur finances stable, and our trade large, has steadied and supported the economic condition of the whole world. We have maintained our own detached independent position in order that we might be better prepared in our own way to serve those needing our help. We have signified our willingness to co-operate with other countries to secure a method for the. settlement of disputes in'accordance with the dictates of reason.” . ATTITUDE TO WORLD COURT. Referring to the United States reservations in connection with the World Court, the President said: “I do not intend to ask the Senate to modify its position. I do not believe the Senate would take favourable action on any such proposal, and unless the requirements of the Senate resolutions are met by other interestefl nations I can see no prospect of this country adhering to the World Court.”