The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-29
No EntsngIing Foreign Alliances
for America!

PRESIDENT WILSON proposed III MS
address on Saturday evening before
the League To Enforce Peace n
change in the historic policy of the
United States in It's relations with
other Powers of consequences so far
reaching and possibilities SO momen-
tous that the adoption of his plan
would constitute n complete reversal
Of the attitude we have hitherto
studiOusly maintained Were his
counsel accepted by his co%untrymen
they would abandon the course to
which they have adhered since the
foundation of the Government and
embark upon IA career Of political and
diplomatic alliance in which the inter-
est and welfare of this nation would
Be engaged with those of others and
It's pledged TO the defence
not Of Its own possessions and rights
hut to the v%indication Of designs and
measures in the formulation of which
II had no part.
The inclusivencss Of the scheme of
international confederation to which
the President would commit the
United States is exposed in the sub
Joined extracts from his speech, to the
preparation Of which. according to
the reports from Washington. he gave
the most earnest thought of which
he Is capable:
'Only when the great nations of the
world have reached some sort OF agree
ment as to what they hold to be funda-
mental to their common interest. and as
to some feasible method OF acting in
concert when any nation or group OF
nations seeks to disturb those funda-
mental things, can We feel tina, civiliza-
tion 10 at last in a way of justifying
it, existence and claiming to be finally
established. It is clear that nations
must In the future be governed by the
same high code Of homo that We demand
Of individuals,
Repeated utterances OF the leading
statesmen Of most of the great nations
now engaged in war have made it plain
tina their thought has come to this,
that the principle OF public right must
henceforth take precedence over the in
dividual 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 alliance must not be set up
against alliance, understanding agains.
understanding. but that there must be
q common agreement for a common OBJ
ject. and that at the heart of that
common object must lie the !nviolable
rights OF peoples and of mankind.
1.-THE nations Of the world nave be
some zach others n%eighbors. II is &c
their interest that they should under
stand each other. In order that they
may understand each other it is impera'
tive that they should agree to cooperate
in a common cause and that they shoulc
% act that the guiding principle OF tina
common cause shall be even handed and
impartial Justice.
80 sincerely do we believe in thes'
things that ] am sure that | speak tn
mind and wish Of the people Of America
when I say that the United States |
willing TO become a partner in an,
feasible association Of nations forme'
in order to realize these objects an
make them secure against violation.
II am sure that The people Of tn
United States would wish their Govern
ment to move along these lines:
"A universal association OF the nation
TO maintain the inviolate security OF tn
highway OF the seas for the common an
u%nhindered use Of all the nations of tn
world, and to prevent any war, begu
either contrary to treaty covenants q
without warning, and full submission q
the causes to the opinion of the world
Q virtual guarantee of territorial mites
rity and political independence"
Against this statement Of wha
President WILSON describes as
creed and not a programme should b
set the exposition of the rule tha
has heretofore guided the Unite
States. 1t is:
1.-THE great rule Of conduct for us
regard to foreign nations Is In extendir
our commercial relations to ave wi,
them as little political connection
possible. So far as we have alreat
formed engagements let them be fulhll'
with perfect good faith. Here let
stop.
Europe has a set Of primary pri
ciples which to US have uOne or a We
remote relation, Hence she must
engaged In frequent controversies, I
causes of which are essentially forei
to our concerns, Hence. therefore,
must be unwise In us to implicate o,
r selves by artificial ties In the ordina