The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-25
RATIFY PACT

Continued from Page Onel
provision for an organization Designed
to minimize occasions for distrusr by
| continuous common counsel, and, sec
ond. it's creation of facilities for con-
yer ging upon any controversy wide
opinion of the world. The desilability
oe organizing these activities by inter-
national cooperation is supported by
borh our political parties.
Is Military Alliance,
Thru article 10 and some refer
ences to it, the league covenant is 70
a degree a military alliance Without
this power it might not perhaps be as
immediate in its effectiveness against
some international crook, but 1 am
certain no country can long continue
in wayward action against such moral
and economic disapproval of the
whole of civilization"
Hoover declared that nation
would look with suspicion upon a
league that called upon it to sacrifice
human life; that the league council
was hesitaung at the present to curb
aggressiveness in various parts of the
world because of the knowledge that
in the present temper of the worlds
peoples not single soldier would be
furnished by a nation aside from
those with immediate and material
interests at stake.
military alliance against aggression is
to control states which persist in
armament which renders them capa-
BILE of aggressive action" Hoover con-
tinued. IF armament were limited to
police purposes and to restrain the
half civilized countries, the other pres
sures of the league would be final,
altho it is my belief that they are in
the end effective even against agrees
sively armed states. The first and
foremost duty of the league is. there
fore, the reduction of an armament
that is now on greater scale than in
1914"
Time Limit on Disarmament.
Hoover suggested that time limit
| be placed upon this disarmament and
that the United States should provide
that continuation of its membership
in the league should be based on sue
cess of this effort. He said this coun-
try could well afford to loan money
to Europe if it saved the taxes neces-
sary for maintenance of huge naval
and military programs.
Hoover said it was not generally
realized that the treaty is now in eff
| feet and cannot be scrapped.
Europe has regretted, but It has
not waited upon divided mind of the
| United States" he said. 1T is the
guarantee of the disarmament of
four great autocracies, and no Euro
pean nation is going to risk their re-
yival."
| Hoover said the covenant was an
essential part of the treaty.
| There is therefore a primary fact:
That all talk of making a new treaty
| is bunk; to revise the functions of
the league in the prevention of war is
| possible.
Revision Is Urged.
| Therefore, my suggestions are,
first, that it is worth consideration
/ by the present members of the league
parts mentioned should be undertaken
/ in order that it may be actually of
greater strength for the great good it
can accomplish. Second, such a re-
vision will meet the merits of dissen-
sion in the United States. Third
hence. we will. if we want peace.
ratify the treaty of Versailles in some
form.
In the face of these conditions,
cannot the Republican party strength
en- it's own position by adopting the
definite constructive policy of ratifica-
ton subject to the minor reservations
and a wider vision of strengthening
the league by excluding the guaran-
tees and their military enforcement
and making membership in the
/ league conditional upon disarmament
within a given period. Such policies
will protect American independence,
free us from every possible entangle-
ment except the use of our moral and
i economic strength to enforce peace.
1t will leave our Democratic friends
fencing upon the ground of advocacy
of a practical military alliance-upon
which their safety devices only further
endanger the real value of the league"