The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-29
Kansas Senator in Favor of
Wilson's Peace Plans.
Presidents Address Causes
Comment in Washington.
DIPLOMATS SHOW SURPRISE
Many Believe Congress Would
Not Approve Federation.
Entangling Alliances Would
Cause Many to Balk.

Washington, May 29.-Diplomats in
Washington read with profound inter-
est President Wilson's address before
the League to Enforce Peace. None
would comment on it for publication,
but frank approval of many of the
features of it was expressed.
| The representatives of some of the
smaller powers spoke in high praise
of the presidents utterance concern
| ing the secondary nations and heartily
acclaimed his counsel to the world to
| lay aside the diplomacy of force and
to substitute therefor the diplomacy OF
justice.
President Wilson's advocacy of a
world police force to compel peace
was met with various opinions APP
! proval was gwen IL in democratic Of
ficial circles, outside of congress and
1t was likewise endorsed by many who
heard it, but in diplomatic circles
there was indicated the greatest doubt
that anything would ever materlallze
from it. Some publicists OF interna,
1 tional reputation also were skeptlcal
that any continental power would ac-
cept it.
Diplomats Surprised.
Diplomats were surprised at the
president virtual announcement that
1.-The United States would be willing to
enter into an alliance or federation of
nations to enforce peace. They con-
strued the declaration as departure
from this country S traditional policy
of holding aloof from "entangiing al
l1iances,'' which was formed by w ash
ington and jefferson and never devil
ated from.
one distinguished publicist charac-
terized President Wilson's proposal of
a federation to enforce peace" and the
yeague's program as a form of inter
national lynch law" He declared the
senate would not approve of it for the
following reasons:
! Ffrst-It would necessitate the sur
| render in part of the national SOW
reignty.
conducting it's foreign affairs would
be taken away from nation
Europe Would Dominate.
Third-The dominating influence in
such a federation would be European
not American, and would be reserved
to two or three of the great powers
| whose policies would be opposed to the
principles for which the United States
! stands.
Fourth-Every power signatory to
the treaty creating such federation
would be compelled to use its armies
land navy in support of the decision OF
the majority was just or unjust.
Fifth-Membership by the United
States in such a federation would in
volve this country in the Balkan prob
lem, the African problem. the Scan
dinavian problem, the Albanian ques-
ton and the Chinese problem
Sixth-Mem bership by European
countries would involve them in Amer
lean differences and spell the death OF
the Monroe doctrine.
Standardization by the United
States creating a tribunal for the
forceful settlement of questions in re-
lation to governments would subor-
dinate the republican to the monarch
icaI idea and discount the value OF
Americas counsels in the society OF
nations, as there would be an arraign-
ment from the beginning against the
United States.
Curtis's Opinion.
By Senator Charles Curtis, of Kan
Sas:
washington did not intend thai
we should not join other nations te
preserve peace when he warned
against -entangling alliances For my
part ] don't think such an alliance OIL
partnership as proposed by the League
to Enforce Peace, or suggested by
President Wilson would be at all en-
tangling in the sense meant by Wash
opportune for entering into agree
ment to keep the world at peace"
BY Senator Francis G. Newlands, Of
Nevada:
Peace agreements are not 'entan-
Cling alliances. My peace resolution.
reflect my views very clearly