Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-03
Correspondent Says French
and British Observers Can
not See Why u, S, Should
Object to Responsibility,
FOREIGNERS CERTAIN
LEAGUE WOULD WORK
Fail to See How Republican
Party Could Gain Advantage
By Contributing to Defeat of
Peace Measure,
ny Herbert Hayard Swopc.
(Staff Correspondent o: tiic New
World and Albuquerque JourEai)
(Tha New York World.)

always difficult for Europeans to un-
derstand, has become a greater puzziel
to them than ever, by the seeming vio-
lence of the opposition o the leaguel
of nations.
French and British observers arcl
perplexed at the unwil llinsness of theI
opponents to restrain their attacks on
the project until after hearing what
President Wilson may have to say I'M
it's support; nor do they understand
the basis for the attacks since the pro-,
posed constitution of the league i'm
poses no burdens upon America that
are not shared by the rest of the
world, and since it aims to assure the
universal peace of South AmericaI
which America always has preached'
Plays Politics Differently.
Their amaZement is natural. Their
own philosophy of politics permits
the widest latitude in jockeying for
position and putting the other fellow
in hole, but they set sharp limit
to any movement that can threaten
the good of their respective countries.
Now they see that in America the
game is carried further, and that one
party does not hesitate to attribute
questionable motives to actions that
are highly inspired. nor is there uIl-
willingness to discolor and misrepre-
sent undertakings concerning which
Shonest differences of opinion may
exiss,
In the case of the league of nations,
the French and British leaders feel
there are two questions that should be
asked, namely, will 1t help each coun-
try. and is there any danger attached
to membership which might threaten
evil to the policies of any nation?
All Conccde Benefits.
The answer is unanimous in respect
tn the first of these questions. Full
consideration by the best minds OF
each country has satisfied the scep-
tics that much will be gained by the
adoption of the league principle. They
do not urge it expecting it to be a
council of perfection, but tley agree
that it will go a long way toward the
prevention of war, and that prospect
alone makes the plan seem to them
not only wise but expedient
over here the thought Is secuted
| that. regardless of any restrictions
that she may impose, the United States
would remain aloof from future wars.
Such aIoofness was clearly demon
| strated as impossible by the expert
| ence of the war that is now closing.
| Therefore, following this line of rea-
| soning. it will be better for America
| to ioin in an undertaking to eliminate
wars than to assume position she
| cannot maintain.
! See No Hidden Menace.
| The foreign observers feel that the
| advantage to the world from joint
/ enterprise against war is so manlfes
| as to require no argument to suppor'
| it. and that the concomitant good te
each nation by the removal of the
| threat of war is equally obvious. St
! they are driven to look for some ma
| den menace to America IN the plaf
as submitted to the peace conference
and they can find none, even in tht
/ speeches OF American senators, whicf
are published in full in the Frencf
papers. Thus the impression is forced
i upon them that desire to embarras
| President Wilson and the American
mission is present in the tactlcs OF I'M
| opponents, although grounds for EN-
barrassment are lacking.
"How can America be adversely af
fected 2" they ask, in analyzing thu
| question of danger to the policies of ;
nation in the league plan. They cal
| discover no cause for fears of tn
kind. In the covenant as written the!
can find no implication of the sur
render of American sovereignty o
which the opposing senators talk.
Nothing Is Concealed.
Her freedom of action is not i'm
psired. her right to make war is no
DESTROYED and her interests are no
falsely committed. There is nothing
concealed in the instrument to affec
her traditional policies, while her po
sition as an apostle of peace and good
will is strengthened.
In regard to manufactures, of which
much has been said, it is pointed on
that America has for long time beer
enga ged in processes similar to thos'
contemplated by the league. Americi
has participated in international func
tions in China, in Egypt and in Samoa
She has welded political interests II
Liberia, and has recognized certain
obligations in Turkey. To all intent
and purposes she has been manda
tory for Mexico. the whole of Centra
America, in South America and II
Cuba and other of the West Indies.
So there is nothing new in the sug
gested plans in this direction. AM
, lnothing startling. Those who hav
, studied this war believe 1t will not b
! possible in future for any nation to b
so secluded as to remain untouched b
any war that may come. The presen
, movement is thus based on the belle
/ that It will be wise to try to regulat
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