Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-31

bring about the adoption of thi:
program.
One would seek in vain to dis
cover in any resolutions of either
house Of congress, in any volume
of resolutions of civic records, in
J any uniform trend of press express
sion evidence that the American
people is unanimous, or even that
there is a majority of sentiment
actually and affirmatively support
ing the. proposition to commit the
United States to an international
alliance which shall make it respon-
bic, with other great powers, and
some small ones, for the preserva-
ton Of the peace Of the world, and
rtc uire her to back up that response
bility by sending American soldiers
on occasion to Europe, Asia and
Africa.
| People Have Not Acted.
| / do not pretend to say that the
American people may not approve
entry into such an alliance, if the
president, with the approval of the
senate, sanction it, but the people
have not yet expressly laid upon the
president a mandate to. commit the
country to such a plan. The man
date must be like that of the messen-
ger who came to St. Paul in a
dream. beseeching him to come over
into Macedonia. Europe, however,
assumes that the American presi-
dent voices Americas determine
ton.
One constantly hears such state
ments as that since America has
abandoned her traditional isolation
and assumed responsibility for Eu-
ropean policies she must do such and
such things; that as America has
united with Great Britain and France
in overthrowing Germany she must
share with them the responsibility
for the consequences, etc.
1t is taken as proven that we have
abandoned Washington's injunction
against foreign alliances and our
Monroe policy as affecting the west
ern hemisphere.
What Allies Expect.
And it is an open secret that some
at least of the allies expect us to
assume as mandatory of the league
of nations the responsibility for the
government of a considerable num-
Der OF the former German colonies
in Africa and possibly of Palestine,
Syria or Constantinople.
| am frequently asked by prom
inent Englishment, Frenchmen and
others here if | think the United
States would be willing to undertake
this responsibility.
In reply have said believed that
that the American people would be
very unwilling to embark in any en-
tcrprise; that the proposition to as
sumo the government of the Kamer-
oons or German Africa or Togo
land would be far from popular in
the United States.
Example in Philippines.
We have had undivided control
of the Philippine islands for 20
years, and the benefits accomplish
ed under the republican administra-
tions have been largely during the
last six years. The partisan politi-
cal views of the different admins
trations temporarily in control of
our government recognizes no obli-
cation to carry out any settled ma
tional tradition or purposes regard |
ing colonies, as is the case with
Great Britain or France. Can the
results of conferences Of the nations
making up the league, which is in
, tended ultimately to embrace all civ
ilized governments, furnish any more
stable or settled policy which would
prevent such a reversal of 10 years
consistent program as the democrat
&c administration inflicted upon the
philippines, after its accession to
power? s.... ..... ...,....a
Wilson Held No Such View.
Mr.. Wilson very truly said, in sup
porting his motion, THE United
State in entering the war never for
a moment thought it was intervening
in the politics of Europe, Asia or
any part of the world. 1t thought
was that there was single cause |
that turned upon the issues of this |
war;" that that was the cause of !
liberty and justice in the world, and
therefore that the United States
should feel that its part had been
Mayed in vain if there ensued upon |
!. a body of European settlements.
But Mr.. Wilson is at this very mo-
ment engaged with the representa-
tives of the great powers in endeav-
oring satisfactorily to conduct a |
body of European, African and other
settlements.
Other Powers Are Willy.
To an outsider it seems not inn
probable that there is on the part |
Of representatives Of some of the
other powers, something of con-
scious effort to commit the United |
States to responsibility for various
adjustments which are being urged.
Mr.. Wilson further said that the
United States would feel that it
could not take part in guaranteeing |
those European settlements unless
that guarantee involved the contin-
uous superintendent of peace OF
the world by the associated nations
Of the world"
This implies undertaking unit
in that guaranty with the associat-
ed nations.
Need Effective Machine.
"Justice, as between great and
small nations" said Mr.. Balfour, in |
speaking about league of nations
few months ago, is to be preserv-
ed, not merely by pious sentiments,
not by elaborate treaties, but by
some machinery which will be eff