Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-12
The KNOX RESOLUTION

Senator Knox has introduced q resolution declaring
1T to be tho sense or the senate that peace should be
concluded promptly with Germany, and, in substance.
that provision for a league Of nationt should be con-
sidered separately. and that each nati9n should be left
free to exercise his own judgment a. to joining OF not
joining such a league. So Tar the resolution will be
satisfactory to most of those who. without rhyme OR
reason. have opposed the proposed plans for a world
league, for those opponents are glad to take advantage
OF ANYTHING that is different from what was originally
proposed. The discussion Of new plans involves delay,
and in delay lies the hope of the defeat Of all league
plans. II the conference had proposed a peace treaty
and a league constitution separately. these same people
would have been equally .insdstent that the two should
be combined in one document.
But another portion Of the resolution will be less
satisfactory to the professed and professional opponents
of. the league. These people have taken their stand on
the doctrine that America is sufficient in all things unto
itself. that it is the business of the United States to
grow a hard shell. and to withdraw itself into that shell
and stay there. With all the vehemance at their COM
mand. and with every infection known, they have main
tanned that this nation has no concern in world politics
or world quarrels, and that it is a denial Of the very
fundamentals of our national existence for. us to partici-
pate IN any manner in-old-world disputes. Now comes
Mr.. Knox, whom they have got into the habit of quoting
with approval, and appends to his resolution a clause
declaring it to be a part of settled American policy to
consider a violation of the peace of Europe a menace to-
ourselves, and that, when the occasion arises. America
will again come to the defense of civilization.
That doctrine is the very doctrine that lies at the
base of every proposal for a league of nations. It is
statedin express terms in one of the articles in the league
framed at Paris. In the broader form in which it is
there stated, that the peace of the world is the concern
of all the peoples of the world, it is the basis on which,
every other provision of the constitution rests. It ist
fiat contradiction of the ~little-American doctrine. ex-
pounded by most of the opponents of the league. Still
further, the Knox resolution not only declares that when
the occasion arises the United States will again come.
to the defense of civilization, but specifies in what COM
pany. According to the terms of the resolution we will
on such occasion, act again in complete accord with our
chief CO. belligerents in this war. What shall he said
to that by the Anglo-phobes whose chief delight has been
in twisting the lions tail? And what sort of denunci-
atoms may we expect to hear from those Socialist papers
one OF whose chief occupations has been that of denounc-
ing the brutality of Clemenceau and the cupidity of
France? !
The Knox resolution will bring CONSERVATION to a
large-if not respectable-group of opponents of the
League Of Nations.