The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-04-08
WHERE DOES j. s.
STAND ON PEACE?
QUESTION is UNANSWERED BY
MEN GUIDING WELFARE OF
THE NATION.
CONGRESS FACES HUGE TASK
Measures Postponed on Account Of
Consideration Of Peace Treaty Now
to Get Attention-YouthfuI Garden
ers viii surpsss work Of Preceding
Years.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAY.

BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.
WashingtOn.-lf there is anyone In
public life who knows just what sta
ton the United States occupies in the
family Of nations since the second re
lection of the treaty of peace with
Germany he Is not talking out loud
The new secretary of state, Balm
bridge Colby, realizes that he VIII
have many unusual international
problems to deal with so long as the
United States declines to 20 along
with her allies in the war In making
peace with Germany and Austria, and
he does not hesitate to so express him
self. On the surface of things cordial
relations between the United States
and all the governments of the world.
even including Germany and Austria,
viii be maintained. but II is well I'M
derstoOd by all persons acquainted
with international usages that so long
as the United States withholds its
assent to world peace strained rela-
tions to n certain extent are bound to
exist.
The League of Nations is, of course,
already going concern to some ex-
tent, but every nation that has Joined
the league realizes that unless the
United States shall eventually become
a member, the league scheme for pre-
serving world peace will sooner or
later go to pieces. Ii is inevitable, ac-
cording to the best Informed states
men, that II the United States should
decide TO go 1t alone in world affairs
other great nations would be obliged
to recast their plans for the future.
Alliances viii Be Formed.
What Will happen in case the United
States shall eventually decide TO stay
out of the league, so well-inf0rmed
statesmen say, is that offensive and
defensive alliances will be formed by
the other great powers. This means
that the world will drop back to the
general defensive and offensive poll
cies that prevailed prior to 1914. The
secret treaty will, II is asserted, be re-
vived and sooner or later every great
power will be suspecting the motives
of nearly every other great power.
Most of the people of the United
States, II Is believed, by persons who
are in position to speak with some au-
thority, will continue to insist that the
United States become member of the
League of Nations. Persons who take
this view confidently believe that II
the issue of league or no league
could be submitted to a referendum
vote there would be no question about
the league receiving a preliminary ma
tority, but the difficulty is to get the
question before the people in any con-
crete form. Ii is generally assumed
that If nothing is done with the treaty
with Germany between now and June,
each of the old political parties will
insert in its national platform a
plank favoring a League of Nations.
If this is done, II is pointed out, any
election result would throw no guiding
light on the minor questions affecting
the treaty, the questions over which
the senate split. The latest informa-
tion from abroad Is that the European
nations which have already become
members of the League Of Nations |
will take a patient attitude with re-
spect to the situation that exists In |
this country and will keep the league |
door open for the United States.
Congress May Adjourn in June.
Now that the senate has returned
the treaty of peace with Germany to
President Wilson there will be an op-
for that body TO dispose of
a large accumulation of business. The
senate was In possession of the treaty
a little more than eight months and
throughout that period II postponed &C.
ton on all legislation except that
which called for immediate attention.
Il did find time to pass the bill return
ng the railroads to their owners and
I has disposed of good deal of un-
important legislation. but In a large
way II laid aside for future action pref
y much everything of importance pro-
)osed during the eight months.
The body has planned TO join with
he house of representatives 10 bring
his session TO an end along about June
!. so as TO get out of the way of the
lational political conventions, and the
eaders realize that II this Is 10 be
lone no time can be wasted from now
m.
A little later the steering commit
ees Of the senate and house will de-
ide just what legislation shall be ,
'ut through between now and the ,
II Is inevitable that a .
God many important matters will go ,
yer until after the presidential cleo ,
on, which means that they will not .
e taken up until the last session OF |
his congress, which will begin ON the :
rst Monday of next December. 4
ielther of the political parties as rep
esented in congress is particularly r
nxious TO explore new legislative a
elds on the eve Of u presidential cleo {
on; the prevailing tendency is to c
lay safe and wait until after the vot- 4
Is have spoken. {
What TO do with the government v