AMERICA’S POLICY OF SAFETY FIRST

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 29, 27 April 1927, Page 11

AMERICA’S POLICY OF SAFETY FIRST

CAUTIOUS COOLIDGE DENIAL OF IMPERIALISM SYMPATHY WITH CHINA By Cable.—• Press Association. —Copyright NEW YORK, Tuesday. The President, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, delivered an address on America’s foreign policy, at the anniversary dinner of the United Press Association of America. He said a policy of the guardianship of the lives and property of American citizens and of securing justice for them would be continued in Mexico, Nicaragua and China. There could be arbitration with Mexico, but that country had said she would not confiscate any American property. There was every reason to expect an amicable settlement of outstanding controversies by negotiation. As regards Nicaragua the American marines now there would remain, in order to prevent the pillaging of the people, and until the United States Government believed peace had been restored. As to China, Mr. Coolidge said he believed the American forces in that country did not contemplate aggression against the Chinese, but they would safeguard American missionaries and business men. He was assured that an adequate settlement would ultimately be made by the victors in the present Chinese struggle for the wrongs committed at Nanking. In his threefold defence against the allegations of Imperialism which were lately made against the existing foreign policy of the United States Government, Mr. Coolidge laid down a programme for the two final years of his Government and his policy in foreign affairs. On these he is expected to seek re-election in 1928. Regarding China the President said that country was undergoing a revolutionary convulsion. She had been broken up into several parts, not one of which America had recognised. America’s main difficulty in China was the protection of the lives and property of her citizens. “We have many missionaries in China,” said the President, “and some commercial establishments. We own nothing in the way of concessions and we have never occupied any territory. American citizens are being concentrated at ports where they can be protected or removed. It is solely for

this purpose that our warships - and marines are in that territory. ‘‘The friendship of America for China has become proverbial. We feel the deepest sympathy for China in these times of her distress. We have no disposition to do otherwise than to assist and encourage every legitimate aspiration for freedom and unity, the cultivation of a national spirit and the realisation of a republican form of Government. ‘ln the turmoil and strife of the present time we realise fully that forces may be let loose which will be temporarily beyond the power of the Chinese to control and which may do injury to American nationals. Our forces are in China to guard against that eventuality. “Wherever a citizen of the United States goes the duties of our Government must follow him. Our Government has been usually too remiss rather than too active in supporting the lawful rights of our citizens abroad.” He disclaimed any programme of military aggrandisement. Mr. Coolidge described the recent reply of Mr. Eugene Chen, the Cantonese Foreign Minister, to the Powers’ protest against the Nanking outrages, as “conciliatory in tone and to a certain degree responsive, leaving the final disposition as to the issue of the matter for further consideration by our Government.” —A. and N.Z.