The Irish standard., 1919-05-24


yet satlsed with the measure. Among these is SEN
ator Knox OF Pennsylvania, former United States
attorney general, who made such thorough and
lucid analysis OF the first draft of the League cove
nant that Its authors made haste to amend it so as
to meet the objections raised. But Senator Knox
now declares that last state of the instrument IS
worse than the first, and it may be expected that his
opposition to it will still persist. Nor has the
amended covenant been sufficiently altered to win
the acceptance of other prominent senators who
ranged themselves IN opposition soon as they had
the opportunity to read the synopsis of the docu-
ment.
lhere u.s. therefore, every reason to believe that
new convention will be subjected to a drastic and
intensive study on the floor of the senate by both
friends and foes pending its final disposition Not
Withstandlng the tremendous importance of han
ding promptly the great issues involved in the peace
covenant, it is equally important that America shall
not be committed to the support of world plans and
pollces which may prove embarrassment to us
IN the future. If the European nations, and espe-
c1ally Great Britain, have in view far-reaching and
comprehensive schemes for the security and main
tenance OF their imperial possessions America, too
should be concerned to preserve her appropriate
place in world politics. We do not, of course seek
or other material expansion in return for
our controlling participation in the world war; We
did not enter the great conflict with any such pur-
pose in mind, and though we may profit in a 6nan-
clal and industrial way as result of the Armaged-
don this is merely incidental and possibly but tenn
porary advantage, which, happily, we need not
worry about But concerned to maintain our
status among the nations the universal friend of
democracy If in the future occasions should arise
in which we may have the opportunity by our moral
and resources to bring justice and democracy to
such victims of despotism Poland, the Czecto and
Jugo- -Savs, and AlsaceLorrane, should not bind
ourselves in any international covenant which would
preclude the possibility of such exercise of our
national power. Nor should we estop ourselves by
such convention from redeeming the pledges to
Ireland of Benjamin Franklin and other patriots of
the Revolution that when the opportunity would
arise America would throw her great weight into the
balance in her favor so as to procure for them the
same blessings of liberty and independence as we
ourselves enjoy.
1t seems inevitable that we are about to make a
departure from the traditional policies of our gov
ernment notwithstanding the counsels of the
Fathers against entanngling alliances with foreign
nations. The world situation perhaps is such that
we have arrived at point in our national life when
it is no longer possible retain our splendid isola-
ton and that we must take upon ourselves larger
share than heretofore of the burdens of our common
civilization But in assuming the role let us
not hamper ourselves with treaty habilaments that
may render it mmpossble for us to render to hu-
manty such services as we have given during the
war, exemplifed in free Poland and the re-
deemed Czecho and Jugo-Slavs.