THE SECRETARY OF STATE

My dear Sir:

I greatly appreciate the invitation contained in Mr. Joseph L. Broderick's letter to address the Harvard-Yale-Princeton Conference at Cambridge on the evening of February twenty-sixth, and am sorry to tell you that I have already made an engagement that prevents me from having the pleasure and satisfaction of accepting it.

There are so many subjects listed in your very comprehensive program that you will realize how difficult it would be for me to informingly discuss any of them in a letter. They are the subjects that are now attracting the attention of those who desire, as I am sure we all do, to maintain in its full integrity our system of government, and yet make possible the adjustment of its activities to the conditions that have so materially changed in a recent period and are still undergoing great changes.

As you know, one of the major efforts of this Department, which will be vigorously continued should Congress renew the Trade Agreements Act of 1934, is the negotiation of agreements with other nations whereby the barriers to trade are lessened and a greater movement of trade facilitated. I am certain that this program will bring mutual economic advantage to this country and to other countries, and that the resulting economic stimulus and improvement in the world will lessen the burdens placed upon governments. Further, the improved opportunity and the increased hope which the enlarged international trade will bring should favor the maintenance of peace. It is imperative that all peoples regain the realization that through trade their condition can be improved, and that on the other hand, war can bring nothing but misery to all participants. The leadership of governments is needed to again draw men's attention to the excellent chances of bettering their condition by peaceful economic effort, in contrast to the complete waste of war.

I rejoice that such a fine group of young men, as are sponsoring and will participate in your conference are giving careful and serious consideration to matters of enormous importance, about which it is the duty of all of us, who desire the preservation of our institutions and the increase of general prosperity and happiness, to be considering. Sincerely yours.   (Signed) CORDELL HULL