New-York tribune., 1919-11-24
PeaceLeagueAsks
Action OF, Treaty
World Is In,perilled by
Delay, 1t Contends; Ap-
peaLs to the People

Settlement of differences over the
treaty of peace to permit its ratifca-
tion as soon as possible after the Sem
ate reconvenes is urged in a statement
issued yesterday by the League to En-
force Peace at the conclusion of a
srecial meeting Of the executive COM
mittee
William Howard Taft, president of
the league, was in the chair. Among
others at the meeting were Edward A
Filene. Henry W. Taft, Herbert s.
Houston. Oscar S. Straus and Herbert
c. Hoover. The leagues statement fol-
lows:
"The defeat of ratification has been
received by the country with surprise
and indignation. The people want
peace. They want peace, and they want
a league Of nations to guard the peace.
Whose name it bears, which party
brand it wears, they care not at ali.
They longed for and expected ratifca-
tion before adjournment of the Senate,
Question Declared Non-Partisan
"The making If peace is no more a
party question than was the making of
war. The American people. without re-
gard to party stood behind the war
until the day of victory. With like
unanimity they now stand behind the
treaty.
Shall the small minority who op-
pose a league of nations in any form
defeat ratification Shall fifteen Sen
ators decide wnere America shall stand
in this world crisis?
Eighty Senators have shown by
their votes that they favor the great
principle Ct the league Of nations. The
fate of the treaty rests in their hands.
They have the votes. They have the
power Theirs is the responsibility.
They must get together.
The failure to ratify the peace
treaty has encouraged social unrest
both at home and abroad. Europe must
have supplies or it will face starvation
cotton planters, livestock raisers and
manufacturers have large surplus pro-
duction which they can market only
in Europe. The rates of exchange al
ready demonstrate the collapse Of any
national credits. These credits, rest
ing upon commerce and international
securities, are the foundation of our
continued prosperity and are vital to
the maintenance Of order and life in
Europe.
Appeal Made to People
"Men and women Of America, this
is your problem. Your interests, your
welfare, the honor and the future of
your country are involved. Your will
Is the supreme command for the men
in Washington intrusted by your votes
with guiding the nation along the
paths of peace and victory.
The Allied nations established dur
ing the war practical union which
is being succeeded by the league of
nations. TO refuse to join this league
is to lose numberless benefits and to
invite the development of league
that will be hostile to US in feeling
and policy. The league of nations
gives the promise of world cooperat-
ing for the purposes Of peace and pro-
against war and the threat of war.
The ideal is American.
Sacrifice of War Involved
"The men and women who gladly
dedicated their sons and their sub
stance to the cause Of obtaining peace
through the defeat of the German
menace refuse to believe that they
have made an empty sacrifice.
"They demand that the Senators har-
monize their differences. Refusal to
do so will defy and betray the people
OF this country by whom they were
elected and to whom they must answer
The treaty should be ratified at the
earliest possible moment after the Sem
ate reconvenes on December l. In the
name of thousands Of Americans who
have died to bring peace and end war,
and Of millions of Americans who have
toiled and sacrificed to that end, we
call upon the Senate to forget prejudice
and partisanship and agree upon a
resolution of ratification couched in
terms that will permit the other sig
natores of the treaty to acquiesce in
the conditions of our ratification"