Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1919-04-10
THE COUNTRY MAY
ACCEPT The TERMS
WILSON MAY ACCEPT CHANGES
OFFERED BY PROMINENT
MEN TO LEAGUE.


The Importance of the document
prepared by Mr.. Root in response to
the request of Chairman Hays, of
the Republican National Committee,
cannot be overestimated. 1t not
only contains the conclusions reach
ed by our most experienced states
man, who has given a large part of
his time during the past twenty
years to the study of international
relations with respect to the estab-
lishment of principles tending to
achieve peaceful relationship among
all nations, but it sets forth with
rare succintness the position of the
party which is now virtually in con-
troll Of the government of the United
States.
Tacitly accepting Mr.. Hays terse
definition as foundation, and in
response to his request for an analy-
sis designed to dissipate the con-
fusion which has arisen in the minds
of the people, Mr.. Root appears in
his proper light as the intellectual
leader and guide of the great politi-
cal organization which through force
of circumstances must make the ul-
innate decision. Practically, there
fore, this pronouncement constitutes
definite notice to both the presi-
dent and the premiers of the allied
European powers that no scheme
will be accepted by this country
reservations.
These comprise specific recogni-
ton of the Monroe doctrine, the re-
Mobilization of the policy of arbitra-
tion with power of enforcement of
all justiciable questions, and, most
vital of all, the right of withdrawal
after suitable notice has been given.
That is to say 1t conforms precisely
to the original declaration of Wash
ington, rigidly upheld by the long
line of his successors. including
President Wilson in 1912, forbid
ding the engagement of the United
States in any permanent alliance for
any purpose whatever with any Eu-
ropean power. Clearly these pro-
posals change completely the nature
of the agreement which the presi-
dent not only requested but demand
ed that the United States enter into
direct violation of its chief ira
ditions.
The first impression upon the
public mind is one of mingled regret
and resentment that the president
did not at the outset draw to his aid
the best abilities at his command in
the formulation of project so vital
to the future welfare of his country.
There is nothing novel in this sug-
gestion. The propriety and the
wisdom of his doing so was impress
ed upon the president from all sides,
from members of his own party, no
less than from the spokesman of the
opposing party, which had just tri-
umphed over his arrogant protesta-
ton at the polls; and it was with a
sense almost Of dispay that the
people beheld the president forsak-
ing his post to take personal charge
of international negotiations In a
foreign country, with only such as
sistance as he might obtain from a
few gentlemen of obviously limited
qualifications. whose capabilities
were yet to be demonstrated. 1t
must be clear to anyone now that
the alarm and the acrimony which
have been created by the discussion
throughout the country could easily
have been averted. It is equally GER
tain that the menace and distress at
tendant upon the prolongation of
the discussions in Paris could have
heen avOided and the greatly desired