Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-06
Lord Grey VS.. Candidate Hardin.

y attempting to justify his latest attitude
OF outright opposition to the league OF
nations, after having voted for its accept
ance with reservations, Senator Harding in
front-porch speech to delegation of
Indiana Republicans, explained: But
the conditions have changed. Experience
has brought enlightenment. We know now
that the league constituted at Versailles is
utterly impotent as preventive of wars.
1t is so obviously impotcnt that it has not
even been tried. 1t could not survive Il
single test. The original league, mistakenly
conceived and unreasonably insisted upon,
mas undoubtedly passed beyond the posi-
bility OF restoration He then proceeds
% argue that IL tho United States had al
ready become member, it would have been
obligated upon the reasonable inSistence OF
the exhausted nations of Europe to bear
the hrunt OF resistance. under Article " OF
the covenant, to the advancing hordes of
Russians intent upon destroying the terri
torial integrity and political independence
of Poland
Declaring that the Polish Russian war
with its threat of general European involve
ment, had proved that the league was a
failure he quoted from British statesmen
TO the effect that revision OF the covenant
would be welcomed abroad. In thus di-
recting attention to the willingness OF mem
Der nations to agree to certain reyisions as
concession to American opinion in order
to save the league, Senator Harding was
disingenuous in his effort TO build up his
case, as the very fact of the willingness of
such nations TO make these concessions in
order TO induce the United States to enter
proves their faith in the strength OF the
league to accomplish the mission for which
1t was created
Also. the Senator quotes Lord Grey ap-
pToTingly on some phases Of European poli-
tics but carefully refrains from quoting
from the latter's letter to Lord Robert Cecil
in July, in which the English statesman
wrote: 1T is not because the league exists,
but because the league was disregarded,
that We were on the verge OF being in
volved in war. Furthermore, the statement
that there is any league obligation is I'M
true. 1t is more than this. 1t is n deadly
injury TO the league, because it gives the
impression that we might have been in
yolved in this war by being member Of
the league. This is not so. Membership
In the league OF nations is essentially only
membership in cooperative association OF
governments TO work for international
friendship. to bring peace by discussion,
based upon justice, not force. To invoke
the league now to support Poland by arms
against the consequence of her action is not
merely illogical; it is, in fact, q great mis-
use OF the league, for it perverts it into an
instrument for carrying war after hay
ing prevented ii from exercising its first
and greatest function of making peace"
These views OF Lord Grey concerning the
league not only squarely contradict Senator
liardings views as TO its impotence but il
dlsposes as well OF the stock assumption OF
the Senate critics, upon which the Senator
creates his bogeyman to brighten American
voters, that under Article y. there is neces-
sari!y any obligation to go to war