ments of the American position was One of the most illuminating state-
made by the Secretary of State when the answered routine request rom Lehe-Senate for statistics on American nationals and investments. in 'China. The policy of the Administration the Secretary pointed out was to protect the American citizen "wherever: he might be. One citizen had as much Fight to protection as another, and protection should" not be denied merely because' the' material inter-tals of American citizens, in a por ticular locality were not high. "There {sn broader and much more funds mental interest—which is that order-processes in international relation: hips must, be maintained. The me creat far. transcends in. importance the value of American trade with China or American investments in hina; it transcends even the ques: tion of safeguarding the Immediate Wweltare "of American citizens China, "in connection with the problem of affording appropriate protection {fo Americans in China, there must the Kept in mind the fact. that we have nationals in practically every country of the world; that the Sune ber' of Americans proceeding abroad for business. purposes la not greater than, Is probably less than the num ber who go abroad. for educational cultural and. philanthropic. purposes; find that" a "polley of" abandoning American nationals. in anyone. part of the world would have inevitable ud serious repercussions adverse the legitimate rights of Americans fand the legitimate interests of this country in other parts, in Most parts, of the world."
The Real Issue The Panay incident aroused public opinion because it was an obvious and outstanding instance of American Interests and rights being disregard. ed. The Secretary feels that it is not enough for the public to be stirred og such direct violations, not even enough to feel that rights and Interests can be violated in less. dramatic ways and be determined to, resist such violation. Tt must. look beyond the immediate selfish cause for anger, to the basic and fundamental conception, of a world ruled by law in whith standards of accept. fed conduct should not be flouted by. nations nor by individuals. It is not tthe loss of American investment nor the protection of American lives Jwhich ig important, it is the failure of certain nations to honour their Signed word, and their departure from accepted standards of international morality.
One of the most remarkable features of the Presidents annual mess: age onthe state of the union was his assertion that America" must recognize the fact that the word of certain nations was nol to be relied upon, These untrustworthy nations had either departed from or never: Known democratic processes of government, Only when democratic Fepresentative forms of government had been established would world peace be secure, and the President) confidently prophesied, that would ultimately come to pass.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.