STATE SECRETARY SAYS WASHINGTON'S WARNING AGAINST 'PERMANENT ALLIANCES' IS 'SETTLED NATIONAL POLICY'
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (JFK+50) On February 22, 1926, Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg*, speaking at exercises held at the University of Pennsylvania in honor of George Washington's birthday, said the 1st President's "admonition against permanent alliances with foreign powers" is "a settled national policy."
Associated Press describes it as...
"the corner stone of our foreign policy."
The Secretary of State went on to say that the policy,,,
"simply means that the United States has come to the conclusion that...alliances...are not in harmony with the principles of our government or the interests of our people."
JFK+50 NOTE
According to the Office of the Historian, President Washington's 'Farewell Address' was presented in a newspaper article on Sept 17, 1796. The President, "frustrated by French meddling in U.S. politics," warned us to "avoid permanent alliances" and instead rely on "temporary" alliances in times of emergency.
*Frank Billings Kellogg (1856-1937) was born in Potsdam, New York & served as US Senator (R-Minnesota) 1917-1923, U.S. ambassador to UK 1924-1925 & Secretary of State 1925-1929.
FBK is co-author of the Kellogg-Briand Pact for which he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1929.
SOURCES
"Washington's Farewell Address, 1796," Office of the Historian, www.history.state.gov/
"Washington's Foreign Policy Still Stands, Kellogg says," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., February 22, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
