Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-16
A BRILLIANT EXHIBITION OF
PRACTICAL CRAFTSMANSHIP
Republican Leaders Prove That They
Are Able to Interpret the Thought
Of the Nation


on the best way for co operating with the
rest OF the world in an association for the
preservation Of peace.
These best minds" when they come to-
Rether will, of course face the facts as they
then exist. They will find League Of Ma
tions of which our late associates in the war
arc members along with all the neutral ma
tions. The only peoples outside are tho Ger
mans, the Russians. the Turks aud the Mex
leans, along with the Americans Now. the
real proposition to be considered will be-
under what conditions the United States will
associate itself with the existing League.
Every practical man knows this. Mr. Cox
knows it. Mr.. Wilson is aware of it, and
every other Democratic leader must admit
II to himself whether he will admit as much
on the political stump or not.
The thirty -ouc distinguished and inf1uen-
tial Republicans who have signed a statement
setting forth their belief in an association
to preserve the peace and their conviction
that the firm establishment of such au asso-
citation can best be secured through tho cleo.
tiOn Of Mr.. lla",ling are representatives Of
the type Of men whom Mr.. Harding has
promised to call into consultation. Among
them are Elihu Root, Charles Evans Hughes,
Herbert Hoover and George W. Wicker
sham, men Of whose sound Amcrcanism
ternational peace is admitted They are
practical men also, with n wide experience
in affairs. The signatures Of Lowell. of
Harvard; Hibben. of Princeton ; McCracken,
of Lafayette: Wilber. of Leland Stanford.
and the presidents of several other great
universities adjoin the names of Root and
Hoover and the others.
These men say what has been evident ever
since the campaign began, II not ever since
the debate on the treaty started in the Sen
ates. namely, that the issue is not between
"a league" and mo league" but between
the league provided for in the treaty with
no substantial modification and such Il league
as commcnds itself to the best sentiment Of
America.
Mr.. Harding has pcrsistcntly declared that
he is in favor of an association to preserve
peace. He does not care what il is called
He insists only that it shall be- SO COnsti-
tuted as to make the attainment Of its object
n reasonable possibility. When he put his
views in another form few days ago the
advocates of the Wilson plan. from Mr.. Cox
down or up. shouted with one accord that
he had "scrappcd the league" and told us
that the only simon pure advocates Of au
association for world peace were in the Dem
ocratic party.
But we are going into the League of Ma
tions. because we do not want to stay out.
This is aS certain as anything can be in
advance Of the event. Aud it has been OBJ
vious from the beginning to those who
studied the forces at work in tho world aud
refused to be deceived by the moves on the
political chcsshoard made by men who were
playing for position.
And when we do go in it will be under
conditions that commend themselves to the
best judgment Of an overwhelming majority
of the people Serious and persistent objcc-
tion has been raised against Article y. which
provides that the league shall preserve
against aggression tho territorial integrity and
existing political independence Of all mem
bers of the league" ibis was objected to
in the first place as an ftcmpt to freeze into
permanent shape the boundaries of the new
nations SGT UP by the peace treaty. 1t was
later objected to on the ground that it would
force the United States to use the army and
navy in Europe in order to protect the little
nations which might be threatened. There
has been reluctance to bind this country 10
any agreement of this kind
An attempt has been made to bettlc the
obligations under IT, When Senator Spencer
said few days ago that President Wilson
had promised to use American forces to pro
tcrt Rumania and Serbia if they were threat.
ened. the President said that the senator had
said what was not true. But when the
Senate foreign relations committee met tho
President at the White House on August 10,
1919. the obligations of the United States
under Article y were gone into and the
President agreed that we should have to use
our army and navy in such a case as was
under discussion with the Rumanan dele
gates Here is what the stcnographic record
Of the White House conference says about it:
Senator Knox-Mr. President, allow me
t. ask this question Suppose that It is
perfectly obvious and accepted that th"rc
is an external aggression against some
power. and suppose It is perfectly obvious
and accented that It cannot be repealed
except by force OF arms. would we be under
any legal obligation TO participate?
The President--No, sir but We would be
under an absolutely compelling moral
obligation.
senator Knox-Rut no legal obligation?
The Presdent-Not as ! contemplate IT,
Senator Williams-Mr. President each
nation II I understand II. Is, Of COURSE
left to Judge OF the applicability of the
principles stated TO tho facts In the case.
whether there is or Is not external aggres.
siCn?
The President-Yes.
S,Hator Willlams--And II any country
should conclude that there was not ex-
ttnal aggression. but that France Or somo
other country had started tire trouble In
directly. We would have the same right as
! understand Il, that Italy had to de-
C!aro that her alliance with Germany
and Austria was purely defensive and that
she did not see anything defensive In It;
so when you como 10 the Judgment Of
the facts outside OF the International law
involved, each nation must determine, as
: understand. whether or not there has
been external aggression?
The Presdent--I think you are right,
sir Senator addressing Senator Knox
YOU were about 10 ask something?
Senator KNOX only wanted 70 tell
YOU that asked that question because
was little confused by the language OF
your message transmitting the proposed
franco-American treaty to the Senate In
which you said, In substance and think
practically in these terms. that this IL ONLY
binding us to do Immediately what vc
would otherwise be bound to do under the
League Of Nations"
The PrcsIdent-Yes,
Here we have the Presidents admission