The Coconino sun., 1919-04-04
WITHOUT THE
 BENEFIT OF COUNSEL

Italy has declared that she will withdraw her delegates from the peace conference, and have nothing further to do with the league of nations un- less Plume is assigned to her at the time the final peace is concluded. Ja- pan insiSts that the race question be settled in her favor in framing the league. and that hereafter the yellow race shall be received on an equal footing with the white. England is- sues what amounts to an ultimatum that no proposition for intemational disarmament can be considered by her that does not recognize her suprema- cy of the seas. France says that AL sace and Lorraine belong to her as well as the coal fields of the Saar val ley, and it is not imagined for a mo- ment that she would consent to any treaty that did not make these conces- sions to her.
 But what of the United States? The other four members of the big five have a proper regard for the "welfare of the community" that we hear so much about but first and fore most, they are looking out for them selves, after which they are willing to do what they can for others.
 America, on the other hand, offers everything and asks nothing. Not word has come across the water of the insistence of the American del- egates for any of the principles that we have held so sacred in the past. The Monroe doctrine was offered up as sacrifice on the altar of the league, and not voice was raised by the American delegates for its atten- tion. Not until vehement protests against it's surrender came from those at home in the U. s. did we hear a suggestion that an amendment be made to the league constitution spec- officially reserving the Monroe doc urine.
 Apparently our constitution has been laid upon the table at the peace conference. and the foreign plenipoten- tiaries invited to dissect from it such of it's provisions as conflicted with ideas of world management. Nothino loath. they proceeded with the vivi- section. and the emasculated instlU- ment is put before the American peo- pie with the threat that unless they are content to live under what is to be left of it, together with the constitu- | tion of the league of nations that is to take the place of the excised portions. the whole world will be plunged into "a chaos the extent of which no man rcan foresee.
 No such doleful predictions were heard when the other nations courag- eouslv asserted their nationalism. The world was not told that unless Eng land surrendered her fleet, Japan ac- cepted certain immigration regula- tions, Italy abandoned Plume. and France contented herself with Alsace and Lorraine. civilization would come to an end and regulated society disap- pear. It is only when patriotic Amer jeans suggest that some attention be paid to the welfare of their own coun- try that dire threats are made as to what will result.
 What the United States would like to see is some good red-blooded Amer canism in Paris. The great war has proven that we are as concerned for the general welfare of humanity as any people on earth. We do not need to make further sacrifices to es7 tablish this fact. But while we are willing to have the wars cost in mer and treasure put upon us again if the provocation is as great. we Americans are not willing to make concessions for the "good of humanity" when if appears from the record at Paris that other nations take the position that sentiment ceases when it conflict with their own national aspirations.