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<br />024';'0, <br /> <br />The War <br /> <br />.]_1 <br /> <br />BASES OF THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />[Released to the press March 21] <br />On March '21, 1944, Secretary of State Cordell <br />Hull informed press and radio correspondents that <br />after returning from his reCent trip to Florida he <br />had noted a growing interest in the foreign policy <br />of the United States and an increasing riumberof <br />requests for information about v~rious points in <br />our foreign policy. He said that he was glad of <br />this increased inmrest. The Secretary said that, <br />in ,addition to many statements and declarations <br />by the President, he had himself made a number of <br />basie stamments on foreign poliey during the past <br />two years. He thought it would be a convenience <br />and help to the public generally if there could be <br />compiled a brief memorandum of a number of <br />them. Accordingly, the following has been pre-' <br />pared: <br />OUll FUNDAMENTAL NATIONAL INTERESTS <br />In demrmining our foreign policy We must first <br />see clearly what our true national interests are. <br />At the present time, the paramount ,aim of our <br />foreign policy ;s.to defeat. our enemies as quickly <br />as possible. ' ' <br />Beyond final victory, our fundam'ental national <br />interests are the assuring of our national security <br />and the fostering of the econom;c and social well- <br />be;ng of our people. <br />INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION <br />Cooperation between nations in the spirit of good <br />neighbors, founded on the principles of .liberty, , <br />equality, j,ustice, morality, and law, is the most <br />effect.ive method of safeguarding and promoting <br />the political, the economic, the social, and the cul- <br />tural well-being of our nation and of all nations. <br />INTER~ATIONAL OROANIZATION BACKED BY FORCE <br />:Some international agency must be, ereated' <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />which can-by force, if necessary-keep the peace <br />among nations in the future. <br />A sysmm of organized internationlll coop,eration <br />for the mainmnunce of peace must be bl\sed upon <br />the willingness of the cooperating nations to use <br />force, if necessary, to keep the peace. There must <br />be certainty that adequate and uppropriam means <br />are avallllble and will be nsed for this purpose, <br /> <br />POLITICAL DIFFERENCES <br /> <br />Political differences which present a threat to <br />the pellce of the world should be submitted to <br />llgencies which would use the remedies of discus- <br />sian", negotifJ,tion, conciliation, and good offices. . <br /> <br />INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE <br /> <br />Disputes of II legal chamcter which present a <br />threat to the peace of the world should be adjudi- <br />eated by an international eonrt of justice whose <br />decisions would be based upon application of <br />principles of law, <br /> <br />REDUCTION OF ARMS ' <br />International cooperative action must include" <br />eventmil adjustment of nationlll armamel;ts in such <br />a manner that the rule of IIlW cannot be successfully <br />challenged and that the burden of armaments may <br />be reduced to a minimum. <br /> <br />Moscow Foua-NATION DECLAHATION <br />Through this declaration the Soviet Union, <br />Great Britllin, the United States, and China have <br />laid th~ foundation for coopemtive 'effort in the <br />post,-war world toward enabling all peace-loving <br />nations, hrge and smllll, to live in peace and se- <br />curity, to preserve the liberties llnd rights of civi- <br />lized existence, and to enjoy expanded oportuni- <br />ties and facilities for economic, social, an"d spirit- <br />nal progress. - <br /> <br />275 <br />