Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-11
Test Of President W1lzS0nS
Letter TO Senator Hitchcock

the mistakes of the past are to
be corrected. it will welcome the
opportunity to share the respon-
sibilities of article ten.
The Choice
The imperialist wants no
League of Nations, but, if in re-
Spouse to the universal cry OF
the masses everywhere there is
to be one. he is interested to
secure one suited to his own
purposes, one that will permit
him to continue the historic
game of pawns and peoples
+. the juggling of provinces, the
old balances of power and the
inevitable wars attendant upon
these things The reservation
proposed would perpetuate the
old order. Does anyone, really
W; ut to see the old game
played again? Can anyone really
venture to take part in reviying
the old order q The enemies OF
r. q League of Nations have By
every true, instinct conferred theil
efforts against Article x, for il
=, is undoubtedly the foundation OF
\ the whole structure. 1t is the
hplIwark and the only bulwark
of the rising democracy of the
world against the forces of i'm
perialism and reaction.
It must not be forgotten, SEN
ator, that this article constitutes
remuneration of wrong ambi-
ton on the part of powerful ma
ciated in the war. 1t is by no
means certain that without this
article any such remuneration
will take place. Militaristic am
billions and imperialistic policies
are Ey no means dead even in the
councils of the nations whom we
most desire to be associated in
the tasks of peace. Throughout
the SESSIONS Of the conference
in Paris it was evident that
rilitaristic party, under the
most influential leadership, was
seeking to gain ascendancy in
the councils of France. They
were defeated then, but are in
control now. The chief argu-
rnents advanced in Paris in sup
port of the italian claims on the
Adriatic were strategic argu-
1aents; that is to say, military
arguments, which had at their
back the thought of naval SUI
premacy in that sea. For my
own part, I am as intolerant
of imperialistic designs on the part
of other nations as I was of
such designs on the part of Ger
many.
The choice is between the
ideals; CT the one hand, the
ideal of democracy, which rep
resents the rights of free peo-
pics even ywhere to govern them
selves, and on the other hand.
the idea Of imperialism, which
seeks to dominate by force and
unjust power an ideal which is
by no means dead and which is
earnestly held in many quarters
still. Every irnperialistic influ-
enoe in Europe was hostile to
the embodiment of Article x
in the covenant of the League
of Nations, md it's defeat now
would mark the complete con-
summation of their efforts to
l1ullify the treaty. hold the
doctrine of Article x to be the
essense Of Americanism. We
cannot repudiate it or weaken
il without at the same time re-
.-~ ''1g our ow~, principles.
work For Humanity
Either we should enter the
league .fearlessly, accepting the
responsibility and not fearing
the role of leadership which
we can now enjoy, contributing
our efforts towards establishing
a just and permanent peace, or
we should retire as gracefully
as possible from the great con-
cert of powers by which the
world was saved. For my own
part, am not willing to trust
to the counsel Of diplomats the
working out Of any salvation of
the world from the things which
it has suffered.
I believe that when the full
Significance of this great Dues
ton has been generally appre-
nended, obstacles will SEEM in
significant before the opportu
nifty, a great and glorious OPP
portunity to contribute our
overwhelming moral and mate
rial force to the establishment
Of an international regime in
which our own ideals of justice
and right may be made to pre-
vail ana the nations of the
o1lnra6 71nnPnf1I1
development under conditions of
order and safety hitherto i'm
possible.
I need not say, senator, that
have given a great deal OF
thought to the whole matter
of reservations proposed in con-
nection with the ratification %
the treaty and particularly that
portion of the treaty which con-
tains the covenant of the League
of Nations and I have been
struck by the fact that prac-
tically every so-called reserva-
ton was in effect a rather
sweeping notification of the
terms of the treaty itself I
hear of reservations and mild
reservationists, but 1 cannot I'M
derstand the difference. between
a nullifier and mild nullifier
Our sponsibility as a nation
in this turning point Of history
is an overwhelming one, and if
[ had the opportunity I would
beg everyone concerned to con-
slider the matter in the light of
what it is possible to accomplish
for humanity rather than in the
light of special national inter-
ests.
If have been truly informed
concerning the desire of some
of your colleagues to know my
views in this matter, I would
be very glad if you should show
this letter to them.
M