Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-28
Purposes. of Peace League
the Only Way to End Wars,
Opinion of Senator Lodge

Senator Lodge, introduced by Mr.,
Taft as 1.-THE senior member of the COM
mittee on foreign relations of the OPP
the league lead the way to the only
possible method of ending wars.
Washington's warning to the country
to steer clear Of entangling alliances.
he added, should not be interpreted to
mean that the United States could not
join with other nations if method
were found to diminish war and en-
courage peace. The world, he said, has
shrunk to a size Washington did not
foresee. Only through force. said the
senator, could any International al
lance hope to prevent wars:
1.-The United States has led the world
in the matter of arbitration. From
the day of the Jay treaty in 1884 ana
the treaty of 1875 down to 1872 eighty
four arbitration treaties had been ne,
gotiated by the executive OF the Unlteo
States, eighty-three had been ratified
by the Senate. and only one, the treaty
of 1897, with England. rejected.
Limit of Voluntary Arbitration.
I'VE have carried. the principle OF
voluntary arbitration to it's limit. and
1t is we'll to recognize that it has
limit, because when we undertake &c
put into treaties for voluntary arbi-
tration questions which no nation
when the stress comes, will submit to
arbitration, we do not advance the
cause of peace, and we do great mis-
chief by making trea.'es "I MT nr me
know in our hearts we are not pre-.
nared to carry out when the time
comes. -h;.r.
ton, l say. has been, think. reacneo
II has done much. 1t has taken out a
large mass Of questions. which once were
causes, frequently, of war. constantly 81
reprisals, and by the general consent OF
civilized mankind has. put them betore
a tribunal and had them there de-
cided.
"If we have reached that limit what
il the next step? ] think the next step
is that which this league proposes TAP
plause), and that is to put behind IN,
ternational peace an lntethal I ma,
league or agreement. or tribunal Tor
peace-force. We may not solve 1t IN
that way, but If we cannot solve it In
that way it can be solved in no other.
Peace Through National Defense.
THE peace of the United States can
only be secured and maintained by an
ample, thorough national defense. CAP
plause.) We haven't that defense now.
I trust that we are entered on the path
that will lead US to the ,upbuilding OF
that defense, both in the army and in
the navy. (ApplauseD Not only to make
our peace secure. but because we. as
nation, shall find it very difficult to in
duce others to put force behind peace
II we have not force to put behind our
own peace.
"Dificulties confront us in the work
which this league undertakes. But the
difficulties cannot be overcome unless we
try TO overcome them. I believe much
can be DONE Probably 1t will be impossi-
BILE to stop all wars. but 1t certainly will
be possible to stop some wars and to d.
minish their number.
This league certainly has the highest
of all aims for the benefit Of humanity.
and because the pathway Is sown with
difficulties Is no reason that We should
turn from it. 1t is the vision Of per-
haps impossible perfection that has led
humanity across the centuries"