The Delta independent., 1919-10-03

Hungary must be protected by the al
lies if protected at all, and that seems
impossible. except by armed interven-
tion.
Do you see any prospect of restor-
ing normal conditions hereby merely
settling the international problem of
the league? Or that when one of
these storms breaks out three to five
thousand miles distant from America,
the burden of their suppression under
the league must fall upon us because
ours is the only great power still pos
sessed Of the financial and military
sinews of war? And do you believe
the public sentiment of our country
men will approve our entry into any
such war waged upon other continents
than ours, to settle differences wholly
alien to our hemisphere? Speaking
soley for myself, cannot perceive the
wisdom of ratifying a treaty pregnant
with strife and conflict, and hoping to
avoid them by INTERVENING its arti-
cles with covenants for league of
nations. This is possible only to an
alliance offensive and defensive equip
ped actually and potentially with pow
er to enforce its mandates. know, of
course, that the new and the Balkan
| nations, save Bulgaria, are to be men,
bers of the league, yet Italy, Rumania
and Bulgaria are nearing an entente,
sure to be countered by similar action
between Greece and the Serbian con-
federation. Europe cannot change the
habits nor control the propensities
born of experiences centuries old. Her
ways are not our ways, nor her pur-
poses our purposes. Peace has been an
interlude with her With US it is a
normal state. Her memories are of
war and the punishments they have in
flicted, of wrongs endured, of hates en-
dangered, of reprisals hoped for. Ours |
have not yet been darkened by shadows |
such as these. Her exa1tation upon
the close of the war and after years of |
awful sacrifice, with the menace of |
Germany behind her, was spiritual and |
supreme. But is was only transient |
That has gone. 1t subsided months |
ago and her ancient attitude has emer-
ged from its effacement. 1t is reflect |
ed in every line of the treaty, save the |
covenant of the league, and the Presi- |
dent secured that upon terms which |
must have been abhorrent to his ideals |
as they are repugnant to his sense of |
justice. !
l can not review specific objections
to the plan of the league without ex-
panding this reply to tedious proper
tions. But will send to each of you
the speech I delivered in the Senate
August % upon the provisions of part |
l3, which trust you will do me the
honor OF reading. Some Of my friends |
advised me that it was not a good par
ty speech. 1t is not party speech at
all, nor one involving party or even
strictly national problem. II my
construction Of part 13 is wrong, feel
sure some of the advocates or oppon-
ents of the league will say SO to the
country and establish the fact by cog
ent and conclusive arguments. No
man will be more greatly relieved than
myself should this be done.
Part has been materially changed |
since it was first given to the public.
These changes have greatly improved
1t, but others are still essential. Even |
Mr.. Taft, its foremost unofficial advo-
cate, now comedies the fact. Those
which shall advocate relate to arti |
cles 1, 10, II, and 81. and to part 10.
the reason for which has been discuss
ed SO much and SO frequently that
am sure you are already familiar with |
them.
The league in one or two very i'm
portant particulars fails to measure
up to the Presidents requirements for |
successful covenant. For example, |
Mr.. Wilson said, on January %, 1917, |
that
Mere arguments may not make
peace secure. 1t will be abso-
lutely necessary that force be
created as a guarantor of the per-
manency of the settlement 80
much greater than the force Of
any nation now engaged. or any
| alliance hitherto formed or PRO
jected, that no nation or probable
| combination Of nations could face
or Withstand it. II the peace pres
emily to be made is to endure 1t
| must be a peace made secure by
| the organized major force of man.
| kind.
No such organized force stands be-
hind this league. 1t does not embrace
half the worlds population.
On September 81, 1918, thhe Presi-
dent said:
Economic rivalries = have been
the prolific source In the modern
world Of the plans and passions that
make for war. 1t would be an insin-
cere peace that did not include them