Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-28
By me Associated rsss.

UQlLe anu lIIC0EEnldU4C
nator Harding today proposed a new
effort to construct a world assocla-
lion on the framework of the Hague
tribunal, clothed with such attributes
OF the league covenant. as may be
found safe and practicable
He pledged himself. II elected Pre-
sident. to make immediate effort
with advice of the ablest men OF
both political parties, to form such
an association either by putting
teeth" into the Hague clause or BY
revising the covenant to protect
national aspirations.
The declaration was made in a
front porch speech to delegation
of Indiana Republicans, covering the
Republican nominees position on the
nations foreign relations The SEN
ator replied to the arguments of his
opponent, Governor Cox, and de-
clared the league issue had been
squarely joined.
The Democratic nominee has fiat
ly said he Is in favor of going in
on the basis announced by President
Wilson. am not. That is the whole
difference between us. but 1t Is a
most vital one. because 1t involves
the disparity between a world course
of justice supplemented by a world
association for confidence on one
hand and the league on the other.
The league had broken down at
its first session and now has passed
beyond possibility Of restoration, he
said. and quoted from British states
men to support his statement that
revision of the covenant would be
welcomed and said he would be more
e. IN that dn+ofI
specifications were impossible in view
of changing world opinion.
Passage of a peace resolution, he
declared, would make an actual and
effective peace without negotiation
OF a separate peace with Germany.
Touching on Mexico he proclaim
ed a plain notice to every govern
ment on the face of the earth that
the United States would submit to
no wrong to its citizens in person or
property.
He also replied to charges Of un-
due senate influence by assertinS
that If elected president he would
be quite as vigilant as he had been
as a senator TO prevent trespass on
that branch of the government on
which he served
The speech follows in part:
LET US suppose the senate had
ratified the peace treaty Containing
the leagues covenant as submitted
TO it in July Of last year. Before
this day we would have been called
upon to fulfill the obligations which
we assumed under Article 10 to
preserve the territorial integrity of
Poland as against external aggres-
SION
"The council of the League OF
Nations would have reasoned. and
reasoned correctly, that the United
States would furnish the munitions
and, if necessary. the men to with
stand the hordes advancing from
Russia far more easily than could
the exhausted nations of Europe
What would of necessity have to
result? Nothing necessarily. we are
informed, since only the congress
can declare war and the congress
might resist the appeal of the exec
utive, but would the congress do
that? Could the congress do that
without staining indelibly the honor
of the nation?
The American people would
never permit reputation of a debt
of honor. No congress would ever
dare make this statement appear
as a weIcher, as it would appear
and would be expected of US before
the eyes of the world.
For myself, I yield to no mar
in willingness, aye, in eagerness, &c
render the greatest conceivable as
sistance to the stricken peoples oi
Europe, / include all of them and
speak with a genuinely sympathetic
heart whether it is to mention dew
astated France or sorely tried Italy
or nobly struggling Poland. or dis.
tracted and misguided Russia, ano
gallant little Belgium, or pitibly de-
ceived Austria, or the ruthless in
vader, Germany, which came to tht
. supreme tragedy through a leader
ship which brought disaster to hel
misguided people.
1T was with that feeling of SYM
pathy that most reluctantly and
with grave misgiving I voted to ac'
cept the league covenant with re
servations designed to preserve oul
essential liberty and action.
The record is made and under
the same conditions confronted bS
the same alternative l should vote
now as / voted then.
but the conditions have
changed. Experience has brought
enlightenment We know now thai
\ the league constituted at Versailles
is utterly impotent as a convention
of war. 1t is so obviously impoten'
that il has not even been signed. L
/ could not survive a single test. The
original league is mistakingly con
| ceived and unreasonably insisted
upon and has undoubtedly passed
beyond the possibility of restora'
ticn.
Now it may appear to you thai
I have been speaking chiefly in ths
negative. | make the admission
What is more. l might continue K
do so most indefinitely with disad'
vantage 10 our cause.
$50 many things have been dont
by the present expiring administra-
ton that no power on earth coulc
induce me to do. and cannot ever
attempt to recount them / may
remark casually. however. thai
should 1 be, as / fully expect to be
elected president of this just ans
honorable republic. will not insis
that the secretary of the navy draf
a constitution for helpless people il
the West Indies at the point oi
bayonets borne by United state.
MARINES. Nor win / misuse this
poRar.of executive TO cover with {
veil Of secrecy repeated acts OF un.
warranted interference in domestis
affairs of the little republics OF tnt
western hemisphere.
"On the other hand. will not
or shall not. as you prefer. submit
to any wrong against any American
citizen. with respect to either his life
or his property bx any Eovernmen<