Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-29
Presidents Speech Before
Washington Body Brings
Foreign Comment.
MEETING WITH FAVOR
Though Reticent, Entente
Powers Put Stamp of Ap-
proval on Address.

London, May 90, Q1:3O a. m.)-'1rre-
sponsible peace talk received its
quietus from Sir Edward Grey last
week, but no doubt President Wilson S
speech before the League to Enforce
Peace will revive the discussion in GER
tain quarters" says the Liverpool
Post. Its definiteness in certain par
ticulars is arresting, but perhaps to
many of his own countrymen the air
of deiniteness which the president
gives to some of his phrases may seem
elusive.
"One can imagine many being spe-
cially disappointed when he says that
with the causes and objects of the war
the United States has no concern To
us, who believe we are opposing an
attempt at world domination, it is hard
to believe that the cause for which we
stand is not of some concern to the
great republic of the west"
The Post argues that the entente al
lies are fighting for virtually the same
object for which President Wilson pro-
poses a league of nations.
Plea Has Greatest Support.
The Manchester Guardian says this
plan of the president is almost as old
as the first formulation of the ideal OF
organized peace, but that it never be-
fore in any part of the world has com
manded the support accorded it in
America today. This newspaper says
further:
The president inevitably has con-
fined himself to cautious and genera
terms but it is impossible to miss the
significance of his declaration that the
United States would be ready to be,
come party to any feasible league Of
nations. Twenty-one months of wal
have done much to undermine ever
the rooted American aversion from al
liances and leagues"
The Westminster Gazette says tha-
if one is to understand what Presi
dent Wilson is driving at his speech
must be considered from two point!
! of vieW-the immediate point of view
of the war and the more remote ont
| Of reconstruction after the war. 1t con
tinues:
! This proviso is necessary, for tht
| presidents neutrality in mind an
| thought is an ice cold abstraction fo
a belligerent who believes he is fight
| ing in the sacred cause of law an(
| right. We do not understand how /;
| neutral can expect to influence thes
events if he begins by declaring him
| self not to be concerned with thei
causes and objects"
Presenting the argument that tn
| entente allies cannot be expected Il
welcome the implied judgment tina
they really are responsible with thei
enemies for starting the war, the Ga
zette continues:
We must guard ourselves in ad
vance against being thought unreason
able or aggressive If we are unable t
accept peace overtures based on tn
assumption of equal guilt. That be
ing said about the immediate prospect
we should be extremely foolish I
write off as UnimpOrtant or impracti
NtLDlt NudL Tie pi ColACllL say . ANU
reconstruction after the war"
Approve Wilson Proposal.
The Gazette considers Presiden
Wilson'S declaration that the Unite
States is willing to become partne
in any feasible association of nation
as a momentOus one and asserts tina
Great Britain's record for a century
an endorsement Of his suggestion 70
establishing the security of the high
ways of the sea 1t adds that if tn
president means sea power in war
to be reduced or limited in such a wa
as to deprive us OF our principe
weapon and means of defense, W
should naturally have good deal I
say on that subject
But the association Of nations t
prevent war has the hearty assent {
this influential newspaper which say
that if the presidents speech can /
taken as a declaration of the adhesio
of the United States to this idea it ha
high significance for it bring
the United States definitely inl
world politics and makes her froI
henceforth one of the nations thi
must be reckoned with in any sChem
of international politics, balance {
power, association OF nations or wha
ever il may be"
Pointing out that an association
nations would be compelled to Us
force 10 prevent any nation from con
; hitting an act of aggression the CT
zette says that if the United State
: Joined with European peace maker
economic weapons would come in
play.
; The Pail Mall Gazette says:
Enforcement of peace Is precise
] what we ourselves are pursuing
what we believe to be the most effe
Tive, indeed, the only way