The Archive · 1939

Small Nations Need Aid

American refusal to enable small nations particularly to obtain means of. self-defence would contribute towards making peace-devoted peoples more helpless, The embargo meant that if any country were disposed towards conquest, and devoted its energy and resources to establish itself as a superior fighting power, that country might be more tempted to try the fortunes of war if it knew that its less prepared opponents would be shut off from those supplies which, under every rule of international law, they should be able to buy in all neutral countries.

"Countries with limited facilities for the production of arms," Mr, Hull added, "are put in a position of increased dependence, and during peace time would feel compelled to shape their political as well as economic policy to suit the military strength of others.

"Unless a spirit of collaboration characterizes the relations between

Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

Your account