Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28

4
| Mr.. M;chener has been
! elected executive secre-
tary of the league. to haze
charge of financial and
! Propaganda work. /
and to make it may throw some light
forward upon the future, as well as
backward upon the past. 1t is plain
that this war could have come only as
it did. suddenly and out of secret
counsels. without warning to the world.
without discussion. without any of the
deliberate movements of counsel with
which it would seem natural to ap-
proach so stupendous a contest. 1t is
probable that if it had been foreseen
just what would happen, just what al
liances would be formed, just what
forces arrayed against one another,
those who brought the great contest on
would have been glad to substitute
conference for force. If we ourselves
had been afforded some opportunity to
which it would be our duty to take. of
the policies and practices against which
we would feel bound to use all our
moral and economic strength, and in
certain circumstances even our phys
fcal strength also, our own contrlbu-
ton to the counsel which might have
averted the struggle would have been
considered worth weighing and re-
garding.
And the lesson which the shock of
being taken by surprise in a matter so
deeply vital to all the nations of the
world has made poignantly clear is.
that the peace of the world must
henceforth depend upon a new and
more wholesome diplomacy. Only
when the great nations of the world
have reached some sort of agreement
as to what they hold to be fundamen-
tai to their common interest, and as to
some feasible method of acting in con-
cert when any nation or group Of ma
tions seeks to disturb those fundamen-
tai things. can we feel that civilization
is at last in a way of justifying its ex
istence and claiming to be finally es-
tab1ished 1t is clear that nations must
in the future be governed by the same
high code of honor that we demand of
individuals.
q. S. Also an Offender.
We must. indeed. in the very same
breath with which we avow this con-
viction admit that We have ourselves
upon occasion in the past been offenders
against the law of diplomacy which we
thus forecast; but our conviction is not
the less clear. but rather the more clear
on that account. If this war has accom-
piished nothing else for the benefit of
the world. It has at least disclosed a
great moral necessity and set forward
the thinking of the statesmen Of the
worla by whole age. Repeated utter
ances of the leading statesmen of most
OF the great nations now engaged in war
have made it plain that their thought
has come to this. that the principles of
public right must henceforth take prece-
dence over the individual interests of
particular nations. and that the nations
of the world must in some way band
themselves together to see that that
right prevails as against any sort of
selfish aggression: that henceforth alIi-
ance must not be set up against alliance,
understanding against UNDERSTANDING
but that there must be a common agree
ment for common object. and that at
the heart of that common object must
lie the inviolable rights of peoples and
of mankind.
THE nations Of the world have be-
come each others neighbors. II Is to
their interest that they should under
stand each other. In order that they
may understand each other 1t is impera-
tive that they should agree to cooperate
In common cause. and that they should
SO act that the guiding principle of that
common cause shall be even-handed and
impartial justice.
Must Reject Arbitrary Force.
This is undoubtedly the thought Of
America. This is what we ourselves
will say when there comes proper oc-
casion to say it, In the dealings of
nations with one another arbitrary
force must be rejected and we must
move forward to the thought of the
modern world, the thought Of which
peace is the very atmosphere. That
thought constitutes a chief part of the
passionate conviction of America
We believe these fundamental things:
First, that every people has a right to
choose the sovereignty under which
they shall live. Like other nations,
we have ourselves no doubt once and
again offended against that principle
when for little while controlled by
torians have been honorable enough to
admit: but IT has become more and
more our rule of life and action. Sec
ond. that, the small states Of the world
for their sovereignty and for their ter
rttortal integrity that great and power
full nations expect and insist upon. And
third. that the world has right to be
peace that has its origin in aggression
and disregard OF the rights of peoples
and nations
Willing to Accept Limitations.
so sincerely do we believe in these
things that ! am sure that 1 speak the
mind and wish of the people of Amer
lea when / say that the United States
Is willing to become a partner in any
feasible association of nations formed
In order to realize those objects and
make them secure against violation.
There is nothing that the United
States wants for itself that any other
nation has. We are willing. on the
contrary, to limit ourselves along with
them to a prescribed course of duty
and respect for the rights of otheri
which will check any selfish passion
of our own, as II will check any ag.
gressive impulse Of theirs.
IF IL should ever be our privilege
TO suggest or initiate a movement fol
peace among the nations now at war
am sure that the people OF the Unit.
ed States would wish their government,
TO move along these lines: First. such
a settlement with regard to their OWL
Immediate interests as the belligerenti
may agree upon. We have nothing ma
terial OF any kind to ask COR our.
selves. and are quite aware that we ar,
In no sense or degree parties to thu
present quarrel. Our interest 10 only
in peace and its future guarantees.
A Universal Association.