The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-26

that plus plus 1 plus plus ! plus
equals | will not bear analysis.
"The President further said in an
other OF his speeches that the League OF
Nations would prevent war by discus
sion and that It was In fact 'debat-
ing society Surely, Mr.. President. We
Will all favor the establishment OF n
forum suitable for the international dis
cuGsion, but does debating society
boycott, starve and make war upon
those Of Its members who do not accept
the decision of the society at the end
of the debate2 Do the members OF q
debating society make war in any part
Of the world where their judgments are
not followed2 Does a debating society
bind itself to enforce its decisions upon
those who are not even members OF the
society? The league may be a debating
society, but II does not stop at that
1t Is a superstate, or IL not that, 1t Is
nothing but a delusion and a snare.
The President says the weakest point
in the league Is the rule requiring q
by smaller number ought to be bind
ing. 1 have no doubt that England.
France, Italy and Japan share the Presi-
dents views. i have no doubt that
England with her six votes feels with
characteristic British liberality that
they should be sufficient to decide the
course of the States associated with
her. To me 1t ls, to say the least, dis
concerning to hear the President make
such q pronouncement. II the league be
founded, may we not expect soon to
have the powers of the superstate made
more effective, as they would be IL this
view of the President were to prevail?
Contention Called Misleading.
at has been persistently urged by
those who plead for the retention in the
covenant of Article X that it is recip-
by its terms the United States guar
antees the territory OF every other menu
Der State, our territory is in turn guar
anteed us by them. / have felt that
this contention Is misleading and de-
ceptive, and now comes the President to
establish the validity of my doubts by
this statement made in his speech at
Spokane September 12 'Ah, but some
may seek to seize our territory. impair
our political independence. Well, who?
Who has an arm long enough to try to
take a single inch of American territory.
or to seek to interfere for one moment
with the political independence OF the
United States7 These gentlemen are
dreaming of things that cannot happen
Truly the proponents of the league
should get together, for in this utterance
the President shows that Article x Is a
one sided arrangement, with the United
States in the position of guarantor of
the possessions of others, with every
prospect OF being called upon to fulfil
them by the exercise Of force and no
possible likelihood of having to appeal
to others for q like or reciprocal service.
nv 80 NaV1,x 20
league of the character contemplated,
there must be equality of conditions i'm
posed upon its members.
where there is a manifest disparity
as in the present instance, dissatisfac-
ton and disruption are bound to come
with time, and the length Of time re-
quired to bring 1t about depends only
upon the complacency of those less ia
vored and their willingness to have the
burdens Of others pressed constantly
upon their shoulders. Mr.. PRESIDENT. i
disagree absolutely with the plea that
the preservation of human liberty will
not be safe unless and until the United
States is made to entangle itself in the
affairs of Europe and assumes share
in their direction. We have no aptitude
for the successful performance of any
such task, and the peoples of Europe
have no real understanding OF the spirit
of our institutions The difference be-
tween our habits Of thought. our meth
DDS Of Government and theirs, are wide
ly disSimilar and irreconcilable. Why is
| 1t necessary to bind America to respond
, to every demand that may be hereafter
made upon her to aid in the adjustment
| of Europe's quarTels. even though their
| origin be charged to the external ag-
gression' of covetous or ambitious
neighbor? The United States may be
| trusted TO do again what she did in the
present instance should there be real
| occasion for II.
$50 far as the position Of the United
| States toward future wars Of foreign
| origin is concerned, I believe it was
| correctly expressed in the resolution
| introduced by the Senator from Penn
| sylvania, Mr.. Knox, as follows:
That, finally. it shall be the de-
clared policy OF our Government, in
| order to meet fully and fairly our OBJ
! legations to ourselves and to the
world, that the freedom and peace
of Europe being again threatened
| by any Power or combination OF
Powers, the United States will re-
gard such a situation with grave
concern as a menace to its own
peace and freedom, will consult with
other Powers affected with q view
to devising means for the removal of
such menace, and will, the necessity
arising in the future, carry out the
same complete accord and coopera-
ton with our chief cobelligerents
for the defence of civilization.
7 "Such a declaration as this would b.
all that Is necessary. 1t would serv
notice to the world that would be hear,
and needed. The world knows that tn
United States would keep the promise
While accomplishing the result intende,
II would leave US free to pursue our owl
course In our own way, free from for
eign dictation or from embarrassing al
liances Mr.. President. 1t strikes m
that by the obligations of the leagu
we are binding the wrong parties. Their
is not the slightest disposition on tn
part of any of the recent European al
lied Powers to engage in further arme,