Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-06-25
H0ouer Says Republican II
Should Stand for Peace
Treaty and the Covenant
Declares They Should Adopt
Plank Urging Ratification |
With Exception OF Article
Ten Of League Covenant I
tBy The Associated sPr.s.. 60, !,

New York, June 25.-speedy ratid-s
cation Of the treaty of Versailles aft-l
er the elimination OF article ten Of the
League of Nations covenant, vas
urged by Herbert c. Hoover in .;
statement published here today in the
New York Evening Post. as the plat
form on which the Republican party
snouid stand In the coming presiden-ss
tial election M
Mr.. Hoover took the stand that the
Implied threat of employment of mii-fi
ltary forces to guarantee the integrity
or foreign states was out Of place
IN a league which he declared was
the product Of the liberal ideals of
the world"
The leagues power, he declaredd
would DC more potent if the threat of
military force were removed and the;
league relied wholly on its moral
and economic power"
1t appears to me to be time tcs
raise the question: said Mr.. Hoover
as to whether this same ycause--I
refer to the guarantee and to the iuses
Of military force-that has broughss
about the dissension in the Unitees
states is not also undermining the
friends of the league in all countries
Has. not experience and discussioYa
shown that the tlrne has arrived tes
reconsider this part OF the league
foundation?'
The basic need for such 4 emilis
tary alliance" as he sees in the leaEuSs
covenant with article ten intact, Mr.
Hoover pointed out. was to "contros
states which persist in armamen&
which renders them capable Of ags
gressive action"
Reduction Of Armament.
While he expressed the belief thas
prevail even against such states. h.
declared the first and foremost duti;
of the league" was reduction of ak
armaments and he suggested ''thas
Americas continuance as a leaguS
member be conditional on thu
achievement of reduction within 8
specified time.
Mr.. Hoover declared that soones
or later the United States must rat
ify the treaty of Versailles in som
form. and that the talk of negotiat,
ing new treaty was bunk
The treaty of Versailles" he sAita
lis the charter of independence a.
Poland. Czechoslovakia and F'inIantg
and the warrant of increased natiors
al territory Of several great nationfs
AND they are now going to reope
| discussion as to their titles. It is tl1s
! guarantee of the disarmament Of fouS
great autocracies, and no Europeasj
! nation is going to risk their reviya
1t Is a mortgage upon the enenl
states. 7 and they are not going To III
fer the opportunity to Germany
Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Blu
garta, to escape their debts by iIrs
trlgue at new peace conference.
!; Covenant Is Essential.
The League Of Nations covenai
is an essential part of the treaty.
gives the title to mandates; it tods
governs certain neutraiized areas;
ramlfies the score of details of settl
ment with enemy states. It's secof.s
function is its provisions for preve.
tion OF future wars. The first pha4s
can no more be reopened than I'll
treaty itself. The second functis
relates to the future and is subje
to amendment: it can be amend.
by the league organization itself.
J In the face of these conditions
he concluded, cannot the Repub
can party strengthen it's own positi,-
by adopting the definite constructi
policy of ratification subject to t,
minor reservations and wider visi,
OF strengthening the league BY esl
cluding the guarantees and their M;
itary enforcement-and making mel,
bership in the league conditional up
| disarmament within given perio
Such policies will protect Americ
, Independence: free us from every e
, tanglement except the use of o.
moral and economic strength to es
force peace. 1t will leave our dem
cratic friaads fencing upon "a
ground OF advocacy of practi,s2
military alliance upon which th&
safety devices only further endans
the real value of the leaealen -