New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-04
Lodge Asserts Note Places
+. S. on the Side of Germany

mfr. President, said yesterday. IN
expressing the hope that we might
consider this resolution with some
care. that Il was resolution Of ex-
IRENE Importance" Senator Lodge said
in his speech. 81 do not think IT'S I'M
nortanee can be exaggerated. II pro-
ieets Congress for the resolution IS
not confined TO this body-in the first
Mace into the field of foreign negota-
tons. which under our Constitution
and the form Of government IS re-
served to the Executive.
1T does more than that. lt also
projects Congress into the heId OF
European politics. and involves US IN
the affairs OF Europe.
Hitherto Congress has avoided. IN
accordance with our traditional pol
icy. any steps which would directly IN
volve US in European affairs. Such
resolutions as have been passed IN
regard 20 events in Europe have been
Of a general character, usually an eA-
pression OF sympathy for the peoples
struggling for their Liberties and their
freedom.
dNOrS mllQet AfSoiuAiOH
"This resolution is not general res
olution in regard TO peace. II does
not simply say that in the interests
Of humanity the United States hopes
that peace will soon be reached among
the belligerents and that TINS desolat-
ing war will be brought 20 an early
end. a..
whether or not such a declaration
Of opinion on the part OF Congress
would have any effect 10 Is not neces-
sary 10 discuss: but IL would certainly
EXPRESS a sentiment which must be
shared By everybody who has any
feeling of humanity or any capacity
for connected thought.
This resolution goes very mueh
further than that. This resolution
commits the Senate. and similar reso-
lu,ions introduced in the other BODY
commit the House, to the most aoSo-
lutte approval and Endorsement OF the
note OF the President Therefore II
is desirable 20 consider 10 Just what
nropositions approval OF that note
would commit Congress and the coun-
try.
No Right 10 NEEDLE
This resolution not only commits US
10 approval of the Presidents note Out
also specifically TO demanding OF me
nations engaged in war on what 'e!mS
they will make peace.
with those terms of peace, as the
war is to-day. We have no national or
legal concern. The terms Of peace as
the war now stands are wholly beyond
and outside our national interests.
THE right Of a neutral country 70
offer its good Offices or mediation IS
undoubted We have a right, through
the organ Of our government iutrusted
with that duty and that is the Presl-
dent to offer our good Offices 20 BRING
about peace between warning nations
with which we are on friendly terms. 1
do not think that the Hague provision
in any way strengthens the general
practice of nations or the law as II now
exists
I'm the first place. IL is not 70 be for
gotten that bell ge~ents engaged in sc-
tive war may without any breach or
friendship on good will absolutely de-
cline and even resent intcrfe >ence from
outside
Here the speaker gave an historic &C
count OF the attitude Of ne lnltco
States from the time England tried 20
interfere during our Civil War 70 the
time President Roosevelt conducted
NuNAfNNAA l IllfA a ANll bNN.fN 90 a.
and Japan. He continued:
President Roosevelt. when he
brought the representatives Of Japan
and Russia together, did not send that
note 10 japan and Russia until he had
found that 10 would be agreeable 10
both.
Sounded Out Both Sides
at will be observed that President
Roosevelt, following the presidents OF
our own country and Of others, first
sounded both sides to the conflict TO
discover whether his good Offices would
be acceptable. Having discovered that,
he then wrote them an identical note
proposing that they should meet, not
suggesting that we as a neutral power
should take part m the conference, but
that they should meet and, as he said,
confning himself TO that and 10 no
other purpose. The rest is known
Vow we arc asked 70 give our full
approval 70 the Presidents note, which,
as ] shall proceed TO show, goes far
beyond any proposition Of merely
bringing the belhgerents together.
The President had a perfect right to
send that note and 70 make that eX-
pertinent.
"The experiment, so far as one OF the
belheerents is concerned, has failed.
We have no reason 10 suppose from
REPORTS that come that 10 will have any
better success with the other side.
Putting aside the general statement
about conditions we come down TO the
essential points that are made IN the
note, which we are asked 20 indorse
bv this resolution and commit the coun-
try to. so far as we can commit H.
from the first word 70 the last.
ut will be observed that the Presi-
dent found il necessary 10 say that
in making his offer ~ this particular
time he WAS embarrassed in making
IL. because it might seem 20 have beer
prompted by the recent overtures Of
the Central Powers. and he assures Us
that Of course IT had nothing to do
with them.
Coming at the time it did. however
- was unfortunate IN producing a wide
spread impression 20 the contrary. O.
course, accept the Presidents state
ment absolutely. ! mean never to i'm
pute motives 10 anybody, and / have
no power 20 define Intentions.
Looked on as Aid to Berlin
"Tho President said that IL was il
no wav associated with the note OF Ger
many 10 the other powers which ha'
lust preceded 10, but unfortunately,
repeat, n different Interpretation wa
placed upon il abroad very general!
and here at home. Those who symps
thized most warmly with Germany re
carded 10 ss friendly and as done a
the time when 10 would help Germany
to make peace At the moment on thu
terms she desired, and it was regarded
in the same way very generally BY
those whose sympathies were adverse
10 Germany and I'm favor Of The Allies