The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-17


ed beyond the limits of our power.
In sum, it seems to me that 1t ought
to be realized In America that those
peace terms which have now been
spread before the whole world, pro-
vide at best only the basis of settle
ment. not settlement itself, and the
League of Nations which we have
called into existence and commission
ed to handle score of continuing diff
ferences Is only the basis of peace
between the nations which do not di<-
fer from its decisions If the United
States does not associate itself with
France and Great Britain in a guar
antee to support France as the ad-
ministrator of this treaty of peace, the
whole treaty will tall of its own
weight at no distant date. But if we
do associate ourselves and our allies
for the future the alliance of these
three nations becomes real force in
the League of Nations. The League
of Nations is nothing except as it is
guaranteed by the alliance between
the three great Western nations, and
the settlement which is the Treaty
of Versailles. viii lnot endure beyond
that time. 1t Is true that we have
tdhCH tnC ICILtdA ll60I anu OEu0T6u
the disarmament of Germany Since
we have the feet that issue is settled,
but how can we enforce German dis
armament except by Allied armament?
We have fixed the number of the Ger
man army for the future, but Napo-
leon, at the height of his power, could
not enforce similar regulation, and
we shall have to rely upon the French
army on the Rhine to perform this
task now.
In the nature of things, given the
character of this war, no immediate
settlement is possible. | do not mean
to suggest that the wisest diplomacy
in the world, the most far-sighted
craftsmanship, could have achieved
immediate liquidation of this war. The
very vastness of German destruction
ensured the prolongation over many
years of the task of reparation. What
the treaty of Versailles actually means
is, then, plain.
Begins Liquidation
So far as Germany is concerned, it
is well to remember that peace with
Germany is only the beginning of the
liquidation of this war; Great Britain,
the United States and France, the
war with Germany, have formulated a
basis of settlement. They have di-
rected Germany to restore her stolen
territories, to pay for her destruc-
tions, and to surrender her weapons
of defense. They have, in addition
subscribed to a formal declaration OF
principles which will largely reduce
the infintesimal chance of war be-
tween themselves and may, and prob
ably will, become the basis for in
ternational adjustments between the
nations allied against Germany AMI
the neutral nations. But so far as
Germany is concerned, they have, sub
Ject to the consent Of their respective
legislative bodies, framed new al
lance to preserve the future peace OF
the world and to enforce the present
terms of peace for period of some
thirty years
The best guarantee of the future
peace of the world is, Enthusiastically
association between the United States
Great Britain and France. No part of
President Wilson's performance y in
Europe shows more clear-sighted
realization of European facts than his
consent to lay this question before
the American congress. IL congress-
shall accept it, the real league of ma
tons which has been created at Paris
will become a fact, and not a parcll
ment proposal. We may now retire
| out of Europe, abandoning our dead
and the cause for which they died. We
may think of escape from the conse
quences OF recent events, but it Is
easy to see. with Europe still in chaos
with Russia in revolution. with feeble
states just struggling to life, with Ger
many in chaos, that we may be called
| to come again and to make new sacri
! fees unless by the very great, by tbs
| incalculable weight of our power, we
give guarantees for the preservation
OF peace which has been Conceived II
justice and can only be preserved b.
/ the bestowal upon justice of tina
sword without which she is forever
helpless.