RIGHTS & LIBERTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1939, Page 5

RIGHTS & LIBERTIES

DEFIANCE BV MILITARY POWERS PUBLIC OPINION IN U.S.A. AT BOILING POINT. RADIO ADDRESS BY STATE OFFICIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi NEW YORK, March 23. The Assistant Secretary of State, Mr Sayre, in a wireless address throughcut the nation today, condemned, without mentioning Germany by name, “those nations with supreme military power who would defy human rights and liberties.

“The issue today,” he' said, “is not only between autocracy and democracy, but between a way of life based on faith in the pledged word and the sanctity of law and moral principles on the one hand, and a way of life based on ruthless force and unrestrained brutality on the other.” He added: “Our whole civilisation, the precious heritage of centuries ,is now at stake. The outcome is of vital concern to every civilised nation. The issue has been made burning clear by the events of the last week. . . Without increasing international trade there can be no lasting world peace. . . . Economic nationalism is the way to war.”

Another indication of American reactions to recent events is furnished by Mr Walter Lippman, the noted publicist, who. writing concerning the American attitude toward the affairs of Europe, makes a significant statement.

He says: “The dictators should realise that, as indicated by successive public opinion polls, by the tendency of voting in Congress, and by the drift of sentiment as seen by observers, American opinion is now in a state of imminent explosion.” Mr Lippman adds: “A spectacular and unprovoked act of violence would almost certainly touch off that explosion. “The European democracies and their allies should realise that another Munich will cause another return to isolationism, and that they may expect assistance only to the degree that they help themselves.”