HOOVER—PACIFIST

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 949, 16 April 1930, Page 11

HOOVER—PACIFIST

AMERICA PLEDGED TO AID WORLD PEACE ARMS FOR DEFENCE ONLY United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright WASHINGTON, Monday. President Hoover today addressed the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. He said it was easy to preach the national duty of helping to preserve peace. It was easier still to engage in invective or vindictive phraseology which would stir up national selfishness and selfrighteousness. Certainly the way of peace lay neither in the rattling of the scabbard nor in the abandonment of defence. America was sincere when she signed the Briand-Kellogg Pact and she engaged her national honour when she ratified it. They must cultivate methodical procedure by which controversies between nations could be settled by pacific means. Until the peace machinery of the world had been developed and tested over a long period of years they must maintain such defence forces as would prevent the penetration of a hostile force. All the world needed relief from the burden of arms, but disarmament could not accomplish it unless it were conducted by agreement among the nations. DEFENCE ALONE Mr. Hoover defended what had been accomplished at the Naval Conference in London as being in accord with America’s precaution for national defence and her efforts to bring about the maintenance of world peace. “We have been able to create a situation in which there is neither inferiority nor superiority in America’s naval strength,” said the President. “This is in agreement with the Briand-Kellogg Pact, by signing which we pledged ourselves to use arms solely fox' defence. “We are stronger in defence as a result of the conference. It is an accomplishment which I believe will appeal to the people of America. Through this agreement we have strengthened the forces of peace. GAINS THROUGH PEACE “In all the discussions as to the participation of the United States in the Wox-ld Court,” continued Mr. Hoover, “thei'e have been persons who have not agreed upon the desirability and necessity of such a court as one of the additions to our methods of pacific settlement of disputes. “I have no doubt that the details cf- the social stipulations under which we should join the court can be solved and that the United States will become a member of it. “Our American people want peace in the world not alone as a matter of material interest to our prosperity and welfare, but because the gains to the moral and spiritual forces of the world are made through peace, not through war.” PREPARING TREATY A message from London says it is understood the two committees dealing with the drafting of the naval treaty hope to complete their work tomorrow. The document will then be referred to the various governments concerned, and as it is uncertain how long this process will take, especially in the case of Japan, the final plenary session may have to be postponed until later than Tuesday of next week. Mr. A. V. Alexandei', First Lord of the Admiralty, and Mr. H. L. Stimson, head of the American delegation, had a conversation today at which it is understood they discussed the question of a safeguarding clause in the three-Power pact, and reached an agreement in principle.