The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***
Dates of addresses by Herbert Hoover in this eBook:
December 3, 1929
December 2, 1930
December 8, 1931
December 6, 1932
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State of the Union Address
Herbert Hoover
December 3, 1929
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
The Constitution requires that the President "shall, from time to time,give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommendto their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary andexpedient." In complying with that requirement I wish to emphasize thatduring the past year the Nation has continued to grow in strength; ourpeople have advanced in comfort; we have gained in knowledge; the educationof youth has been more widely spread; moral and spiritual forces have beenmaintained; peace has become more assured. The problems with which we areconfronted are the problems of growth and of progress. In their solution wehave to determine the facts, to develop the relative importance to beassigned to such facts, to formulate a common judgment upon them, and torealize solutions in spirit of conciliation.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
We are not only at peace with all the world, but the foundations for futurepeace are being substantially strengthened. To promote peace is ourlong-established policy. Through the Kellogg-Briand pact a great moralstandard has been raised in the world. By it fifty-four nations havecovenanted to renounce war and to settle all disputes by pacific means.Through it a new world outlook has been inaugurated which has profoundlyaffected the foreign policies of nations. Since its inauguration we haveinitiated new efforts not only in the organization of the machinery ofpeace but also to eliminate dangerous forces which produce controversiesamongst nations.
In January, 1926, the Senate gave its consent to adherence to the Court ofInternational Justice with certain reservations. In September of this yearthe statute establishing the court has, by the action of the nationssignatory, been amended to meet the Senate's reservations and to go evenbeyond those reservations to make clear that the court is a trueinternational court of justice. I believe it will be clear to everyone thatno controversy or question in which this country has or claims an interestcan be passed on by the court without our consent at the time the questionarises. The doubt about advisory opinions has been completely safeguarded.Our adherence to the International Court is, as now constituted, not theslightest step toward entry into the League of Nations. As I have beforeindicated, I shall direct that our signature be affixed to the protocol ofadherence and shall submit it for the approval of the Senate with a specialmessage at some time when it is convenient to deal with it.
In the hope of reducing friction in the world, and with the desire that wemay reduce the great economic burdens of naval armament, we have joined inconference with Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan to be held inLondon in January to consider the further limitation and reduction of navalarms. We hold high hopes that success may attend this effort.
At the beginning of the present administration the neighboring State ofMexico was best with domestic insurrection. We maintained the embargo uponthe shipment of arms to Mexico but permitted the duly co