New-York tribune., 1918-12-21
Peace Depends
On Trade Pacts.
Marshall Says
Opposes U. S. Ownership
of Ships, but Calls 1t
Preferable to Subsidy

CARLISLE, Penn, Dec. 20.-Vice-
President Marshall in an address here
tonight before the Carlisle Chamber
OF Commerce gave his views on some
questions now under discussion in con-
nection with the peace conference,
prefacing his remarks with the expla-
nation that he had no thought of en-
deavoring to affect President Wilson s
negotiations.
On the question of world league or
understanding to prevent war, which
he said all right-thinking men agree
is desirable, Mr.. Marshall declared that
until all men are of good will wars
will not cease unless nations desire
peace at any price. He said the Allies
and the United States could go very
far toward promoting peace, but he
predicted unless reciprocal trade agree
ments are made between these associ-
ated nations existing cordial relations
cannot last.
Deplores "Half-Baked" Opinions
at is furthest from my thought upon
this occasion to utter single word
which might in any manner be con-
strued as endeavoring to affect the
negotiations of the President in Eu-
rope" said the Vice Pres Gent in open
ing his address.
"Too many half-baked opinions COM
ing from myself and others in public
life may cause mental and moral in
digestion. | speak, therefore, only in
general terms and go only to the length
that all may agree.
"That some league or understanding
among civilized peoples for the pre-
vention of certain future wars Gas
prefer to put it, rather than for the
enforcement of peace) is desirable, all
right thinking men agree. 1t has been
the dream of all ages. Thus far, this
dream of universal peace has each sue
ceeding time turned into nightmare
"This appears to me to be the real
situation.
"If mankind the world over is the
mankind of a hundred years ago, or if
there is the possibility that either Eng
land, France, Italy or the United
States contains the growing germ of
military OF commercial supremacy
then, though attempt may be made to
preserve the peace of the world, the
attempt would be another failure.
Conditions of Success
"1f, however, the masses of mankind
in these four great nations and in the
lesser nations, for whom Jointly the
fight has been made, have seen a new
Light and are convinced of the useless
ness and folly of war, and if, more and
more, education and enlightenment as
the days go by and the generations
come and go shall add to the number
of those who thus think, then the ex-
pertinent will succeed.
Il have, of course, no means of know
ing what the representatives of the
Allied governments may be willing to
take up with the American people at
the peace table, but | venture the as
sertion that the good will which nov
and our own will not last five years
unless reciprocal trade relations, fixed
in justice, are arranged between US
Peoples learn slowly and soon forget
"The theory that men are going to
deal justly with each other, regard
less of a law to punish injustice, is q
millennial dream. The Allies and
America, by reciprocal trade relations
and by the right of power and duty
TO cut OIL cOmmcrClal TRANSACTIONS
with any people on earth that pro-
poses to disturb the peace of the
world, can go very far toward pro
noting that peace which we all just
now sincerely desire.
without knowledge, / express the
hope that we will not let go by this
opportune time for removing what will
undoubtedly be source of friction II
the future unless dealt with speedily
and justly.
"If no equitable adjustment of the
business of the world shall be made
then, as business men who are deeply
interested in the commerce of Amer
ica, you realize as we'll as I do tha
its weakness in the past has been the
lack of ships upon the sea.
/ Each of US knows that one of the
reasons for that lack has been the
way in which we have insisted tina
our ships shall be manned.
81 think the La Toilette law i
wholly humanitarian in its character
! | hope that, by international agree
ment, it may become the law of th
sea for all sea-going powers. But i
it does not then We are confronte,
with three propositions: either to re
peal the law or to subsidize shipping
or to have governments. control OF GU
merchant marine, conveying the prod
uce of our merchants to forcig
shores without any proilt TO the gov
arrraot of the limited Statasn