UNIVERSAL PEACE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 5

UNIVERSAL PEACE

ROOSEVELT’S PLAN PRACTICAL SCHEME OUTLINED. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 28. Speaking at. a dinner here ‘ to-night President Roosevelt proclaimed the policy that the United States would . henceforth be one of those powers that will be unalterably opposed to any armed intervention in dealing with her neighbours. President Roosevelt stressed the following three points:— (1) The elimination of offensive weapons.

(2) A declaration by each nation against invasion.

(3) .The signing of a solemn international treaty by. all of the nations to' abide by these “rules of fair play.” -

Mr Roosevelt said that the United States did not contemplate becoming a member of the League of Nation?, However); he praised the League’s work, And said that, encouraging -as it did, the extension of non-aggreNsion •pacts, or . reduction 'of armament agreements, the League, was a prop in. the world peace structure,.. The President remarked: “The late President Woodrow ..Wilson’s gallant 'appeal to banish future war meant little to the imagination and the . hearts of a large number of those so-called statesmen who were gathered at Paris in the year 1919. I saw that with my own eyes! I heard it with my own ears!” Referring to his work abroad as assistant secretary of the United States. Navy during the war and the post-war periods,, President Roosevelt said; “Political profit, personal prestige, . and- national aggrandisement attended the birth of the League of Nations. They handicapped it from its, infancy by seeking their own profit, and their own safety first.” - Outlining his own three points fbr universal peace, the .President said that he told every , nation in the world something to this effect:— ; ‘.‘One: Let every nation agree to eliminate, over a short period of years,, and by progressive steps, every weapon .of offence in its possession, and to . create no additional u’eapons , of offence., This does not guarahteei a nation against invasion, unless you; implement it with the right for the j nations to fortify • its own -borders j 'jvith permanent and u. non-mobile defences, and also with the right to assure . itself, through international and, continuing inspection, that its neighbours are not increasing, liorj maintaining, offensive Weapons of, War.” . .. ... .. • . v

; “ityo: A simple, declaration; that ilo nation will permit any of its nrm« ed forces to cross its own borders into.the territory of another nation, and that such act will be regarded by humanity as an act of aggression and that therefore, it , would'call for the condemnation of humanity.’? • “Three: It is clear that no such general agreement for the elimination of aggression and of the weapons of offensive warfare would be of any value unless every nation, without exception, entered into the agreement by a solemn obligation. If such an agreement were signed by the great majority of the nations, on the definite condition that it would go into effect only when signed by all of the nations, it would be comparitively easy determine - "which nations are willing to go on record fis belonging to that small minority which, still believes in. the . use of the sword; - for invasion or attack upon its neighbours.i

FRENCH DISARMAMENT PLAN “PARKING” OF OFFENSIVE ARMS • ' LONDON, December 29. “Following on her rejection of Herr Hitler’s proposals, France contemplates presenting a new disarmameht plan next month,” says the “Morning Post” diplomatic correspondent. “A feature of this scheme would be the “parking” of all offensive arms on neutral ground, with a view to their eventual destruction, at the end of ten years, the control of armament had been effectively established. The defensive weapons would be gradually reduoed, so that complete qualitative equality would be realised after eight years. i\o re-armaments by Germany would bo permitted, apart from the transformation of the Reichswehv from a professional force into a short service conscriot. armv.” .

“The scheme proposes the reduction of military aircraft, the creation of an international air force and the internationalisation of civil aviation. “It is understood that in the event of Herr Hitler refusing to accept this plan as a basis of discussion, France will lodge a formal complaint against Germany’-s violation of the peace treaty, and, will produce the famous' 1 dossier.

“According to “M., Pertinax” France has already offered to scrap -part of her force of kcmbiin/ aeroplanes as a guarantee of sincerity, and lias suggested that Franoo-British proposals he drawn by M. B'oncour and Sir John Simon as a basis for Franco-German r.cgotiations. ’’