The sun., 1919-01-14
ROOSEVELT ARTICLE
WARNS OF IA POINTS
Their Adoption as Basis for
u Peace or League Is
Called Nonsense.
PLANS ARE TOO VAGUE
Final Editorial Urged Exist
ing Entente Alliance Be
Made Foundation.

Kansas CITY. Mo, Jan. l3.---An arti-
Gle on the league of nations, the last con-
tributlon tina. col Theodore Roosevelt
prepared for the Kansas City star, APP
peared in that newspaper to-day. This
editorial was dictated Friday, January
3. and the Coloners secretary expected
to take the typed copy to him for cor
recton on the following Monday. In
stead she wac notified early that morn
ing OF his death. The article follows:
1T is. OF course, a serious misfortune
that our people are not getting clear
idea OF what is happening on the other
side. For the moment the point as 10
which we are foggy is the league OF ma
lions. We all of us earnestly desire sucn
a league, only we wish to be sure that I
will help and not hinder the cause ot
world peace and justice. .,-
There Is not young man ~ uh I'
country who has fought. or an ola man
who has seen those dear 90 MN hsh''
who docs not wish to minimize the
chance of future war. But there ID not
a man OF sense who does not know thst
in any such movement II too mucn Is
attempted the result is either failure OF
worse than failure.
In stage Of Rhetoric.
The trouble with Mr.. Wilson'S Utter
ances 81 Gar as they are reported a"u
the utterances Of acquiescence In tner'
by European statesmen, Is that inc
are still absolutely in the stage OF
rhetoric, precisely like the fourteen
points. Some of the fourteen points
will probably have to be construed As
having a mischievous sentence sinAiier
number might be construed as eelu'
harmless, and one or two even as pene
6cial hut nobody knows what Mr.. VIII
son really means by them, ana SO al
talk of adopting them as basis TOT a
peace or league Is nonsense ana II inc
talker Is intelligent, Il is inslncere non
sense TO boot.
$50 Mr.. Wilson'S recent uterances
give MS absolutely no clew as 70 whetner
he really intends that at this moment we
shall admit Russia, Germany. with WHICH,
incidentally. We are still waSing war :
Turkey, China and Mexico INTO INC
league on full equality with ourselves
Mr.. Taft has recently DEFINED tne pur-
poses OF the league and the limitations
enables most Of us TO say we very
heartily agree In principle with his the
ory. and. can. without doubt come 10 an
agreement on specific details.
"Would It not be well to begin WIN
the League which we actually nave ia
existence? The league OF the Allies VINO
have fought through this great war |.
Let us at the peace table see that real
Justice is done as among these Aihes'
and that while the sternest repara-
ton is demanded from our Toes TOT
such horrors "a those connn,tteo IN
Belgium, northern France, Armen Ia
ard the sinking of the Lusttania, moth
Ing should be done in the spirit of mere
venStanca - u .t-.t -
Extension OF Privileges.
Then. let, us agree TO extend the
privileges OF the league as rapidly as
their conduct warrants 1t to other ma
lions. Doubtless. discriminating be-
tween those who would have a guiding
part in the league and the weak ma
tons who would he entitled to the
privileges OF membership. but VINO
would not be entitled TO guiding voice
in the councils
Let each nation reserve TO itself ana
for its own decision, and let II clearly
set forth questions which are non-jus-
ticlable. Let nothing be done that will
interfere with our preparing for our
own defense by. introducing system
of universal obligatory military tram
ing modelled on the Swiss plan.
FINALLY make it perfectly clear that
we do not intend to take position OF
an International meddlesoIne Matty.
The American people do not wish TO 10
into an overseas war unless for a very
great cause and where the issue Is abso-
lutely plain. Therefore, we do not wish
to undertake the responsibility Of send
ing our gallant young men to die In OBJ
scure fights in the Balkans or In Central
Europe. or in a war we do not approve
of. Moreover, the American people do
nc. intend to give up the Monroe Doc
trine.
Let civilized Europe and Asia intro
duce some kind OF police system in the
weak and disorderly countries at their
thresholds. But let the United States
treat Mexico a. our Balkan peninsula
and refuse to allow European or Asiatic
movers to interfere on this cont ent in
any way that implies permanent or
semi-permanent possession. Every one
o. our Allies will with delight grant this
request il President Wilson chooses to
make 1t, and II will be a great mlsfor-
tune II II Is not made.
II believe that such an effort made
moderately and sanely, but sincerely
and with utter scorn for words that
are not made good by deeds, will be
nrnductIva ~ real and lasting interna-