The Washington herald., 1920-06-26
Early Ratification of Treaty
Urged BY Hoouer with League
ofNations Objections Removed

league for fear IL may be led TO
the final step OF war. Its council
will be more courageous in deliver
ing moral and economic excommu-
nication IL military measures are
not possible.
The league is in being today
with twenty-eight nation members,
and IL we frankly examine its ef-
fectiveness in Europe at this mo-
ment IL will become apparent that
the council is hesitating in attempts
to restrain aggression because of
the knowledge that in the present
temper of the world no nation, ex-
cept those which have immediate
and material interests at stake, will
furnish a single soldier for its as
sistance. Yet ! do not hesitate to
say that a firm moral and economic
boycott would stop every war now
in progress in Europe.
The basic need for threatening
military alliance against aggression
is to control states which persist
in armament which renders them
capable of aggressive action. II
armament were limited to police
purposes and to restrain the half
civilized countries. the other pres
sures of the league would be final.
although II is my belief that they
are in the end effective even against
aggressively armed states.
Disarmament Foremost Duty.
The first and foremost duty of
the league Is, therefore, the reduc-
tion of an armament that is now on
a greater scale than in 1914. II ever
We are to secure measures Of dis
armament now Is the time--when
the masses OF the people are rebel
ltous against war and taxation for
war. 1t Is my belief that a time
limit should be put upon this dis
armament. In other words, we
should provide that the continuation
OF our membership in the league
should be based upon success in this
effort. We could we'll afford to loan
Europe for economic Mobilization
half the money we would save in
taxes II We could safely curtail our
naval and military programs. Those
states which oppose such disarma-
ment and prefer to use their re-
sources for this purpose certainly
have no right to complain of our
lack Of economic assistance.
NSts L1FkeIy ENeCute0.
Todays practical situation with
respect to the treaty is worth some
consideration amid all this unneces-
sary violent partisanship and per-
sonal ranccr. The thing that the
public-and even those who have
been debating the ELECTROMAGNETIC
iy fail to realize Is that the treaty
Is now In effect and cannot be
scrapped. as so many have urged.
europe has regretted; but 1t has not
been waiting upon, the divided mind
OF the United States.
The treaty. as DISTINGUISHED from
thr league. Is In large part already
executed; the Lew states have been
set up and their. boundaries settled
and accepted, except on the Russian
'front.' and two or three isolated
points. Plebiscites are IN progress
to determine some Of these. Commits
sions are in being, controlling the
in'ernationalized rivers; settling
c'a'ms 20 river craft, railway roll
'nr stock: settling interstate A.
nance. collecting reparaticn In cash
ana commodities and dire citing cur
r"nts or trade. The league of ma
'''1 nv" embraces the MEMBER
ship or many neutral nations, and
II is today governing several neu-
traiized areas. Cnoer IL commits
s'ohs are at work on plans of dis
armament Of the world, interha-
tionai courts. and many other items.
Those American statesmen who
conceive that Europe viii meet our
diss-nsions by aba ndc ming the
treaty md sumnoning 6 new world
peace conference are entirely ig-
n'rant Of the European situation.
Tne treaty of Versailles l. the
charter II independence of Po'an1.
Czecho-Slovakia and Finland, AMI
the warrant for Increased national
territory of several great nations.
ana thsy are not going to reopen
discussion as to their titles. 1t is
the guarantee OF the disarmament
OF four great sutocracies. and no
european nation Is going to risk
their revival. II Is a mortgage upon
the enemy states. and they are not
going to offer Opportunity TO Ger
~'any. Austria Hungary. Turkey
snd Bulgaria to escape their debts
M 1nlrtKne n Anana ennfAr.