The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-15

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first storm or. whether the worlds
greatest and noblest builders have
| placed IL on rock foundations, which
will enable it to stand and be safe
I refuge 10 the world in hours OF storm
and stress.
Reduction Of Armaments.
! Mr. President, the first important
| provision contained in the covenant
| TO relieve the world from existing
and heavy burden and to remove one
OF the most fertile sources OF war
in the past is that relating to the re-
ducticn If ornaments. 1t is contained
in article s, and IL as follows; =.
The members OF the league
recognize that the maintenance
of peace requires the reduction OF
national ornaments to the lowest
point consistent with national
sa fety and the enforcement by
common action of International
obligations,
Does any one dispute the wisdom
and soundness of this declaration?
Does any one desire to expend on
armies and navies greater sums than
are required for our national security
and TO insure to us our international
rights Expenditures beyond these
for naval and military purposes are
wasteful extravaganza, burdenine
business. retarding enterprise, ana
depriving the government ano the
people OF much money that could be
wisely devoted to many commendabie
UNDERTAKINGS The purpose is most
laudable and Is sought to be obtained
In way that could not in the Leash
be preiudicial to the United StateA
To accomplish this reduction the
covenant provides.
The council, taking account OF
the geographical situation ana
circumstances of each state. shall
formulate plans for such reduc-
ton for the consideration and 80
action OF the several governments
Such plans shall be subject TO
reconstruction and revision at
least every 10 years.
After these plans shall nave
J.. been adopted by the several gov
ernments the limits OF arma-
ments therein fixed shall not be
exceeded without the concur
renee of the council.
safety is Uppcrmost.
What better plan for disarmament
could be devised? The council is di-
rected to prepare general plan or
disarmament for the consideration OF
the governments of the several mem
hers of the league, which plans are
not binding upon any Of the states
until approved by that state. In
formulating these plans the council is
directed to reduce ornaments to the
lowest point consistent with the ma
tional safety of each member OF the
league considering also then geo
graphical situation and circumstances
of danger or attack confronting eacn
member and also the retention or
sufficient forces by all members OF
the league to insure the discharge of
international obligations. lf the
council observes fairly and honestly
these principles in the preparation or
the plan of disarmament no state
would be threatened in its security, no
state would be left helpless at the
mercy of another, and the league
would be made secure from internal
and external overthrow. What guar
antics are provided TO make effective
these desirable conditions? The re-
port and recommendation of the
council must have the concurrence or
the representatives of the nine states
which constitute the council. Thus
the report and reComm en- datlon of the
| council can not be made without the
| approval of the representative of the
! United states Without this approval
the whole plan of disarmament fails
and nations are left, az now, to have
such armies and navies az they may
! themselves determine. Even when
! the report and recon- mendations OF
i the council are unanimously made,
they do not become binding on any
state until regularly approved by ITS
government. Under our government
the proposed plan to be effective in
! binding must have the sanction or
I vlxrz tNA 9sr
the constitution. with the power OF
raising armies and equippirg navies.
| Thus the interest of the United States
| in any plan of disarmament is amply
! Safeguarded. No general plan OF dis
| armament can be presented withoue
| her consent, no obligations imposed
! upon her without the approval of her
! congress, where reposes our national
security II would seem to me that
plan Of disarmament devised and
adopted by most of the nations of
the world upon these conditions, il
| the United States has any foresight
whatever in the exercise OF her power,
t would give her far greater security
! than any policy of national isolation
| outside the league, surrounded by
nations jealous and apprehensiVe or
| her great power and liable at any
moment 20 combine for her over
| throw.
| Alternative Ia Clear.
! II she enters the league she obtains
national security by the reduction OF
| her ornaments and those of other
nations upon plans recommended
with her consent and accepted by her
government. II she remains out she
| only obtains a prAcarious security
! by competing with other nations in
! the creation OF vast armies and navies,
with their attendant frightfui and
| staggering expense and the certain
! assurance that some day all her
! vast national interest will be ex-
| posed to the hazards OF war.
/ One reposes national security upon
the solid foundation of calm fore
sight and craftsmanship; the other
places 1t upon the quicksands OF i'm
Ipending wars. We obtain greater
security with far less expenditures. A
/ large part of the immense sums now
| a propriated for ornaments would
be utilized TO secure better educa-
tonal advantages, to construct good
roads, to build better homes, to aid
religious and charitable institutions,
to develop new Industries, and for
the general advance OF comfort and
civilization
Covenant Is Only Hope.
There can never be any disarma-
ment with safety, nor will there ever