Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-05-29
OUT or THE FOG.

Among the writer's who have StaN'u
I'm Paris to study the situation ana
developments Of the peace conference
nv meeting the representatives OF !he
,.arious nations and keeping in touch
with changing sentiment are in;1a'U"I
and able observers. There are OF course
;,any newspaper correspondents Wh'
aue the:r. reports TO ccl'o N TO inc
known , ,llt,es of the journals which
s,nt them o paris
But among the discriminating VIII
tiers who send out magazine articles
from an independent attitude, there
seems to be unanimous belief that the
conference has spilled the beans OF
public confidence by following secret
methods in order to conceal the fact
that many elements are dissatisfied.
Also it is made clear by all who eN-
press their convictions, that the league
of nations covenant, by delaying a
pcace settlement and stability, has
caused restlessness and revolution to
grow.
The high hopes of peoples melted
TO believe that realization of ideals
was to be had for the asking have
shriveled Compromises have been
made with or without the approval of
the American conferces and original
plans have been shifted, Few nations
have now the prospect of securing
that which was expected or promised.
Much is yet in the fog.
Even the American people when
covenant would bind them for de-
cade to serious policies are not al
lowed to see the agreement now III
the archives at Washington, with
held even from the inspection Of Uni
ted States senators.
The agreement is in the hands Of
Germany. Secresy is not toy the pub.
lie welfare. The American people
have a right to know what the league
of nations is putting over, and not
have to depend upon the summary
which was sent to hold them until the
president comes home to bolster mp
his defense of the document and seek
to give his Interpretation to ,bscu"c
phrases and hidden points.
Even with the printed documents
before the people and with discussion
in full by senators. editors. professors
i al,
remain foggy to many who were not
in Paris to absorb the spirit that
induced or prompted much of the
covenant.
Among the most instructive reviews
in print is an article by Richard w.
Child, in Golfers of recent date en-
vealing much that was not to he
learned by anyone except in contact
with the leaders and minor figures
from day TO day.
The review is absolutely without
criticism of any leader, but in con-
clusion the author says:
"Out of the fog there emerge two
great lessons for Americans-for us.
They are spoken in Paris-undcr the
table.
The first Of thSe is that no matter
what the measure of Wilson's influ-
cnce through the peace conference
viii be, his influence and ours would
nave been UNNECESSARILY greater and
our risk of appearing as a preaching
creditor nation UNNECESSARILY less if
we had stayed awav-ready to serve
as arbitrator, asking nothing. sug-
costing a league of nations. if need be,
but not inviting resentment by forcing
upon the world the will OF our repre-
sentatives at Paris. Having made our
belated war contribution generously
and as people in full measure of
yea, We could have retired We would
nave had a much greater usefulness as
volunteer judge, whose judgments
would surely have been requiSitioned,
than as party to the adjustment
The second lesson for us. now he
ing realized in Paris, is that tho world
cannot be remade on paper as those
other nations associated with us knew
long ago. Geography and climate have
not made the peoples of this earth tf
one mold or one fitness. The laws of
economics cannot be lcgislated
Leagues are held together only by
common interests.
Frankly outspoken now is the
opinion that any league of nations
must be based upon common interest.
not upon paper from which one
party after another. because of the
bald facts of geography. economic
law, race loyalty, and the nature OF
tn
the idealist provisions, and not upon a
paper in which time may disclose i'm
projections rather than adequacy"
Freedom of the seas does not con-