THREAT OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 April 1939, Page 7

THREAT OF WAR

ANOTHER AMERICAN DECLARATION MR HULL AGAIN WARNS AGGRESSORS. WAY TO PEACE STILL OPEN By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. WASHINGTON, April 26. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, tonight addressed the National Convention of the Red Cross in teims which were at once a plea for peace and a warning that war would inevitably react disastrously upon the aggressors. Unusual significance is attached to the speech, tnough no nations or statesmen were named, because it was delivered almost on the eve of Herr Hitler’s reply to President Roosevelt’s peace plea. Mr Hull issued a warning that “armed aggrandisement under modern conditions or warfare entails destruction for which no conceivable advantages secured by the conqueror can possibly provide compensation. A nation entering upon this course inflicts incalculable injury upon its own people and the world as a whole.” A warning was also issued by Mr Hull that the United States was prepared to defend, and defend successfully, its national interests. Stating there was no controversy which could not be settled with greater benefit to all concerned by peaceful processes of friendly adjustment, Mr Hull went on: “When a nation makes a deliberate resort to armed force on any piea whatever, it uses war or a threat of war as an instrument; of policy of territorial expansion or domination of others. Such nations are the authors of war, the awful cost of which is paid by their own people and the rest of mankind.” He added that there was ample room on the earth for the two billion people inhabiting it, but there was no room for a political organisation under which a group of nations would enslave all others. Mr Hull commented that the road to a peaceful adjustment of reasonable and legitimate grievances was still open, but as long as some nations continued to arm for conquest all others must either surrender or arm for defence.

“Americans prefer peace negotiated before a war rather than afterward,” he continued, “and to such a peace they will make an appropriate contribution, but, if their hopes are disappointed and the red flames of war rather than the noonday sun of peace illuminate our horizon, we are equally prepared to defend successfully our national interests and cherished institutions.”

President Roosevelt, addressing the convention earlier, emphasised the need to meet the great requirements of relief movements. He said: “In a world disturbed by war and fears of war, unselfish devotion to the Red Cross to the welfare of others stands in striking contrast to the inhumane acts wnich have shocked our conscience. The task before us is enormous.”