State proceeded, was profoundly convinced that the most effective contribution which the United States, as a nation sincerely devoted to the cause [of peace, could make in the tragic conditions of mankind to-day was to have the country respected throughout the world for its integrity, justice, good-will, strength ard unswerving loyalty to principles.
Referring to the suggestion for a popular referendum on the subject of declaring war, Mr. Hull asked what warrant there was for the assumption that the Chief Executive and Congress were ever more likely to be more eager to embark on war than the general body of citizens.
On the other hand, he went on, the adoption of the referendum plan would hopelessly handicap the Government in the conduct of foreign relation. Likewise dangerous from the viewpoint of the preservation of Peace was the proposal that the United States should retire from the Far East.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.