South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-12

KEEP THE COLONIES THEY HAVE CON-
QUERED,"-
indeed. rather amusing when you hear Johnson
opposing the Snantung proviso, and railing az
Britain, particularly in Roosevelt name
Japan conquered Shantung. a German prov
ince ceded to Germany by China following the
Boxer uprising. Japan took it from Germany IS
prize of war. Roosevelt says she should keep
it. Right wrong any pleading for the transfer
of Shantung from Japan to China in the name Of
Theodore Roosevelt. hasn't a les to stand
anywhere.
NOTHING there about hard and cruel
' treaty for Germany, or fearing one. nor IS
there any suggestion that the United States
should turn Stacker seek separate peace
or shirk responsibilities through fear of an
entangling alliance
In fact, two months later. Roosevelt repeated
the substance of his Lafayette day program IN
the foreword to his book. The Great Advance
finished shortly before his death. and concluded:
Our present business is TO fight and 10 con-
tinue fighting until Germany is brought her
knees
"Our next business will be to help guarantee
the peace of justice the world a large. and 10
set i'm order the affairs of our own household"
No fnching here no shedding of belated tears
over Shantung; no atavistic invocation against
entangling alliances; squealing about
American troops abroad to preserve peace: no
fear lest Germany be embarrassed or punished
for her barbarsm
Japan was to keep what she had taken from
Germany Germany to be brought to her,
knees; 1t was then to become our duty to
help guarantee the peace of justice for the
world at large
X
IVES. truly oh if Roosevelt were only herer'
L He would be making mince meat out Of Hi
Johnson Miles Poindexter, other ex-progressives
and stand-Patters opponents of the Paris
treaty and the world League; using his name in
vain.
Indeed though dead. he lives on in word and
spirit and makes mince out of them any
how.
About the last thing he did when alive. was
ito indorse Iaft's fight for a League of Nations.
and his only two reservations was the safe
guarding of our internal rights and our proper
preparedness.
AS to the northumberland from by both
Prest Wilson and ex-Pres't Tafe,-that Amer
can control of domestic affairs and American
sovereignty need greater safeguards thrown about
them; well let US call in real lawyers exactly
Roosevelt would doubt do, instead Of de-
pending upon the legal acumen Of politico-
senatorial Pettifoggers
The American Bar association contains Just as
good international lawyers Hi Johnson.
anyone else In the United States senate and
committee of that association recommends "a
simpler method than killing both the treaty and
the League-Or throwing them again into con-
ference. That committee says:
The covenant should be clarified by amend
mcnt but instead OF attempting amend IL at the
present conference, should be amended after
ratification in the manner provided by Article
NXVL of the covenant. Such procedure would
delay the ratification Of the peace treaty and
could more readily be accomplished. inasmuch
il requires only the concurrence OF the nine
members composing the council and a majority
of the members constituting the assembly, whereas
amendment at the peace conference requires
unanimous action"
Pretty good sense, isn't IT'D Doubt that the
United States upon which the world nov de-
ponds for so much would be able to get her
wanted amendments through the council. Is the
doubt of a fool,-and if perchance the amend
ments should fail. how about the only two years
that we would be obliged to remain as mem
bers2
Statesmen who have so many quams about
the League Of Nations would hardly play poker
as they play for peace-or aren't they playing
for peace2
Let Roosevelt answer. his voice coming down
from his Battle Greek, Mich speech during the
campaign Of 1916:
To maintain honorable peace VIC must find
out Germany wants. and what those German
Americans who more Germans than
Americans. then give it 20 them. for uicy
are sure not 70 want anything that would b. hon
Orabe America give The German COnCcp-
ton OF neutrality is TOO pro-Gcrrnan for America
TO ne swayed by To maintain a strict neutrality
and honorable peace must rise above tho
game OF party politics and Tul I'm the dcuccs"
That was before we got into the war, but It Is
a good hint to the hope!essly partisan, Pro-Cer-
man. anti-treaty and anti-Leaguc Promenaders in
the name Of Roosevelt; plainly enough under
false colors