The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-19

PRESIDENT on MS NFlps MT law C'NN 's
WaShinqton's foremost newspaper cor
respondent and generally accepted as
the unofficial Interpreter Of the admin
istratton's vlews,-Editor.)
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,
The News selmltar's Special Washing.
ton Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov, lS-PrtSldeht
Wilson expects to go abroad soon after
he has delivered his annual address 10
congress in December.
Analyzing the many and varied
opinions which have been expressed as
10 the wisdom Of Mr.. Wilson'S gong,
the majority Of those that oppose the
trim are concerned over the need for
the presidents participation In numef-
Gus reconstruction conferences at home
unless there Is a much more WeiEhty
reason than has hitherto hceu expressed
the newspaper and individuals VINO
have made public comment on the pro-
posed tourney are inclined against II
But there is a more weIghty reason
beside which event pressure of doints-
tic affairs is relatively unlmporlaht
that reason is the formation once ana
for all Of a league Of nations.
So much has happened 10 bring re-
lief from the bloudshed Of four ana
a half wears that the public mine mas
become for the concentrated
on the settlement perpIeNlnE questions
growing out Of the war ana lesser A.
tention has been given 10 the funda-
mental causes Of this and other wars.
The peace delegates themselves Will be
invested with the duty of working out
the details of the settlement ot this
war. indeed IT is a mere matter OF en-
forcing the terms which the entenle
and the United States VIII nave de'
cided. u there Is a larger question
interesting not Simply btIllEeFehl, nut
neutrals the world over and that Is the
composition of the league Of nations
For League.
The president wants to see the league
Of nations organized not after the peace
settlement itself Is effected as IA klnd
Of academic combination OF nations
such as the Hague conference proved
10 be but as a living association Oh
peoples who will have pound themselves
10 prevent war by mutual cooperation
Neutrals will have to be admitted 70
the discussion too. MIR. Wilson mas
been regarded as the spokesman, not
merely OF the thought OF the United
States. but OF the pau-Americhn family
Of nations.
This Monroe doctrine. which has been
so much misunderstood In central aii9i
south America because America dld
not obligate herself by specific c0nVeu-
lions to refrain from taiiug the terri
tory Of n-AmCrlCau countries, mas
been understood during the Wilson du
ministratiou because of the nnselilSh
policy Of the American government IN
Mexico and the inslstenCe OF President
Wilson on a rectification of the wrong
done Colombia In pam America, as well
as the submission OF a genera pun
American treaty.
The peoples of Central and South
America look to the United states 70
express at the peace conference thelr
ideals and wishes. weak nations are
always dependent upon the moral power
OF strong nations to exert an influence
in their behalf. There Is no abandon
ment OF the Monroe Goctrine involved
in a league of nations, rather an eNten-
sion OF the principle around the glope
SO that no nation may practice agrees
sion against Il ne%ighboring country OF
its resources, Many are the pefpleNlns
problems which would be involved II
an extension of the Monroe doctrine
Protecting Basis.
The United States has felt Il friendly
interest In the welfare Of nations with.
in its sphere Of influence but neye'
has the American government uhueI
this or previous administrations insist
ed on trade agreements which woult
exclude European nations from South
ern markets. The sphere Of influence
has been merely a protecting arm
never an instrument for selfish aggfAh'
dizement. On that basis there proba'
bly, never will be objection to the
sphere Of influence idea even IN q
league Of nations. But the necessity
for an exchange Of viewpoints on tn,
league of nations Is the foremost sub
ject in the mind Of the president as re
Vealed in recent speeches as well as "
other informal ways. The words OF Mr.
Wilson's speech in New York Furnished
a key to the situation. He said OF
Sept, 81:
"As / see 1t, the constitution Of tha'
league Of nations and the clear definl
ton Of its objects must be q part Il
IN a sense the most essential part o
the peace settlement itself. 1t canno
be formed now II formed now 7
would be merely a new alliance con
fined to the nations associated agatns
a common enemy. 1t Is not likely
could be formed after the settlement
1t is necessary to guarantee that peace
and the peace cannot be guaranteed a.
an a"fterthouEht, The reason to speal
in plain terms again why II must b
guaranteed is that there will be par
ties to the peace whose promises hay
proved untrustworthy and means mus
be found In connection with the peac
settlement itself to remove that SQUIRE
OF its insecurity
Urged TO Go.
The president has been asked b
European statesmen to come to Eu
rope They realize as much rs he doe
the need for some kind Of association
They do not know how far presiden
Wilson would be willing to go TO see
league established that would insur
peace.
How would the peace be insured
Shall there he large standing armte
and large navies or a gradual reductto
OF both. America comes to the con
fAFHDTa mot as "a weak n0rtnpT hut "A
an unusually strong partner. TIL
trouble with the disarmament prohlel
heretofore has been that strong ma
tions were unwilling to reduce the
military or naval power. These thing
involve practical discussion. hut ONC
the general principles are agreed upo
the details can be worked out by III
delegations to the peace conference.
Tn European statesmen feel TIN
President Wilson will understand the
point Of view better through a persons
visit The president is Of an open mir
as to the manner IN which Il
league of nations shall be organize
He wants TO talk the thing over wit
the heads Of European government
and when he comes hack 20 the tnitt
States will have an opportunity of &
ing before the people of this Countl
and submit for their approval or di
approval the principles Of a world o
ganization in which America Will
asked to play a leading part. 1t is q
peace OF the world. and Americas pa
In maintaining 1t so that anoth
worldwide war will be impossib
which induces Mr.. Wilson to make
trip to Europe, 1t is unprecedente
but so is everything connected with {
present emergency,
The premiers of European COVER
ments vested with executive respon,
bilities will be there. No delegati
that Mr. Wilson could aonoint Wo,
be, after all, responsible to the peol