Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-14
LAST ARTICLE ON
NATIONS LEAGUE
BY T.R. APPEARS
Colonel Declared Americana
Were Not Getting q /,
Clear Vision &

Kansas City, Mo-. Jan. 14.-Au 9rA
ticle on the league OF nations, the
last contribution that Colonel Thso.
dore Roosevelt prepared for the Kan
sas City Star, appeared in that newss
paper yesterday. The editorial wsa
dictated Friday. January 3, ana HE
secretary expected to take the typed
copy to him for correction on the 81.
lowing Monday. Instead she was ne<as
fed early that morning Of his deesssa
The article follows:
1T is, Of course. a serious nnisfoss
tune that our people are not setsins
clear idea OF what Is happoninss
on the other side. For the fnooYne enS
the point as to which we are foggy
Is the league OF nations. We. ali Of
us earnestly desire such a league.
only we wish to be sure that it VIII
help and not hinder the cause oA
world peace and Justice. There il
not young man in this country
| VINO has fought or an old man who
mas seen those dear to him fight who
does not wish to minimize the chance
OF future war. But there is not .
- HSAAcO WIZ oOGS uOL KNOW In8n
IN any such movement, IL too Yns,cfa
is attempted, the result fs either fnli.
ure or worse than failure.
"Mr. Wilson'S recent utteraocsa
give us absolutely no clue az te
Whether he really intends that AZ
this moment We shall admit RussSs.
Germany, with which, incidentally.
we are still raging war, Turkey.
CHINA and Mexico into the league on
full equality with ourselves. Mn.
Taft has recently defined the purs
poses of the league and the lin ifs-.
ttons under which IL would act IN a
way that enables most Of us TO saw
we very heartily agree in principia
with his theory and can withouh
ooupt come to an agreement on sps.
cific details.
Would it not be well to begin
with the league which we actually
nave in existence, the league of the
Allies who have fought throurb This
great war? Let us at the peace table
see that real justice is done as among.
these. Allies and that, while the
sternest reparation is demanded from
our foes for such horrors as those
committed in Belgium, Northern.
france Armenia and the sinking OF
the Lusitnnia, nothing should be
done in the spirit of mere yenge.
ance. Then let us agree to extend
the privileges of the league as rapid
~ as their conduct. warrants IL to
other nations, doubtless discriminat.
ing between those who would have
guiding part in the league and the
weak nations who would be entitled
TO the privileges of membership but
VINO would not be entitled to a guid-
Ing voice in the councils.
FINALLY make 1t perfectly clear
that we do not intend to take a po-
sltion or an international Meddle-
some Matty. The American people
do not wish to go into an overseas
war unless for q very great cauce
and where the issue is absolutely
plain. Therefore, we do not wish to
undertake the responsibility Of send
ing our gallant young men to die In
obscure fights in the Balkans. or.
In Central Europe or in q war we
do not approve of. Moreover. the.
American people do not intend to
give up the Monroe Doctrine. Let
civilized Europe and Asia introduce
some kind of police system in the
weak and disorderly countries at
their thresholds. But let the United
States treat Mexico as our Balkan
peninsula and refuse to allow Euro
pean or Asiatic Powers to interfere
on this continent in any way that
implies permanent or semipernna-
nent possession. Every one Of our
Allies will with delight grant this
request If President Wilson chooses
to make 1t, and 1t will be a great mis-
fortune If 1t is not made.
I believe that such an effort made
moderately and sanely, but sincerely
and with utter scorn for words that
are not made good by deeds, will be-
productive of real and lasting inter.
national good"