Likewise, if two larger nations enter into a discriminatory arrangement between themselves with an agreement to divide their spheres of influence, other nations inevitably Will take defensive economic mei sures, and, instead of establishing peace and economic rehabilitation and progress, the result is bound to be a general collapse.
"The trade programme is based fundamentally on the truth that if individual ability and skill can be released generally throughout the world, and if men everywhere can more freely seek and find opportunity to make an exchange of their mutual advantages, their products and services in continuing vistas of prosperity is possible Governmental action can open opportunities and remove artificial hindrances. When this is done the vision and energy of men can safely be relied on to take advantage of these opportunities. This earth has ample resources for its inhabitants if they are enabled to work freely; but these are of little use if the reasonable flow of economic life is obstructed, Those who have joined with us to keep open the main highways of peace have benefited materially. Great nations are more prosperous: mall nations are more safe, more free; since they do not have to submit to economic and ultimately political domination in order to live. The contribution already made is one of which this country may be proud. There will never be assured peace, confidence, and' progress until the peoples of all the leading nations fully. realize that economic barriers lie at the root of the world's poor ills.
"Our hope and our standard invitation is that in the coming yea the programme may be joined by all. By its very essence it is open equally and impartially to each an nation without exception."
Press, French Commander for
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.