OCR Text |
Show Disarmament in Accordance With the Theory of the Washington Conference Ey PRESIDENT COOLIDGE, in New York Address WE HAVE determined to maintain and can maintain, our own political independence, but our economic independence will be strengthened and increased when the economic stability of Europe is restored. We hope further that such a condition will be the beginning of a secure and enduring peace. Certainly it would remove many of the present pres-ent sources of disagreement and mislmderstanding among the European nations. When this adjustment is finally made, and has had sufficient time of operation to become a settled European policy, it would lay the foundation foun-dation for a further effort at disarmament in accordance with the theory of the Washington conference. Although that gathering was able to limit capital battleships, it had to leave the question of submarines, aircraft and land forces unsolved. 1'he main reason for this was the unsettled and almost threatening condition condi-tion that still existed in Europe. A final adjustment for the liquidation of reparations ought to be the beginning of a new era of peace and good will. Our past experience should warn us not to be overconfident ia the iace of so many failures, but it also justifies the hope that something may De done where already there has been some success, and at least we can demonstrate that we have done all that we can. The world knows that we do not seek to rule by force of arms; our strength is in our moral power. We increase the desire for peace everywhere every-where by being peaceful. We maintain a military force for our defense, but our offensive lies in the justice of our cause. Wo are against war because it is destructive. We are for peace because be-cause it ia constructive. We seek concord with all nations through mutual understanding. We Delieve in treaties and covenants and international law as a permanent record for a reliable determination of action. All these are evidences of a right intention. But something more than these is required to maintain the peace of the world. In its final determination it must come from the heart of the people. Unless it abide there, we cannot build for it ayy artificial lodging place. If the will of the world be evil, there is no artifice by which we can protect the nations from evil results. |