The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-11-30

future wars. TalIeyrand had TIL.
congress of Vienna by the ears in no
time, although he represented a
beaten France and had been barely a
year before the agent of the abhor-
red Napoleon. Surely Prince Won
Bulow, if he is called upon to per-
form the task for which he has been
preparing for four years, will have a.
hardly less attractive opening.
To take. for example, a single
question, that Of the freedom of the
seas. This either means some sort
of international understanding which
will limit the operations OF the do
n1inant sea power in time of war or
lit means nothing II 1t means the
former. then it will unquestionably
be opposed by the British and sup
ported by the Germans. Sea. power
used without regard to international
law as written before the era of the
submarine and in defiance of the
rules of blockade, which were based
upon the conditions Of sail naviga-
ton, has defeated Germany and
saved the world, quite as much as
Great Britain, from German DONNA
ton.
Such being the case, it is certain
that the British nation will not now,
whatever might be the case of a
generation hence if the League of
Nations shall demonstrate its cf-
ficiency, yield in one degree that
power which alone has proved its
salvation. But III Britain refuses,
and Germany accepts proposal
coming from President Wilson, what
will be the effect upon American
representatives at Versailles; what
will be the effect upon the whole
congress if the questions of repara
ton and restitution remain unsettled
while the congress divides over the
freedom of the seas?
I think every one OF any humani-
tartan sympathies hopes to see
evolved at Versailles some form Of
international agreement which may
prove the framework for a true
League of Nations, and real
guarantee against international mis-
understandings, which eliminate in
evitably in wars The danger which
Is apparent to many today is the
danger that is disclosed in the in
suit if, before the present war is
liquidated, the conditions of a
future international association be-
come the cause of differences, de-
bate, estrangement, between the
nations who have won this war only
by seeking common end by a unity
of thought and of action.
But If the condition, and the only
condition, Of League OF Nations be
to make a peace with Germany
which will make the victims of Ger
man aggression and violence in the
past four years bear the eventual
burdens of that aggression then 1t
seems to me that the price is too
high. And the danger is very real.
Nor is there less danger that we may
be brought to the position of seeking
to lessen the effectiveness in Britain's
hand of the one weapon on which our
victory in this war depended, name
~, the British navy, operating with
out regard to conventions, regulating
the freedom of the seas"
Even Utopia would be intoierabla
if in it only the red handed murderer
were to have immunity from the
consequences of his recent crimes.
merely because he had changed his
name or his employer. More than
this, we hear much today OF ''heal-
hopes that we shall have. this bless
ing. But even healing peace must
be designed first to heal the wounds
OF the innocent victims before it
strives to cure the wounds of those
who were injured seeking to murder
their neighbors. And If any one is
to bleed to death. to follow the fig
ure iof speech, it certainly should
not be the women and children OF
France and Belgium.