Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-06-25
Hoover Asks
Pact Minus
Article Ten

AVE-" 1ork, June 25.-Speedy rati-
fication of the treaty of Versailles
after the elimination of article Y of
the league of nations covenant, was
urged by Herbert Hoover in state
ment published today in the New
York Evening Post as the platform
on which the republican party should
stand in the coming presidential cleo
ton.
Mr.. Hoover took the stand that
the implied threat of employment of
military force to guarantee the integ-
rity of 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
declared, would be more potent II che
threat of military force were remoy-
ed and the league relied wholly on its
moral and economic power"
Redrafting Needed
1t appears to me to be time to
raise the question:" said Mr.. Hoover.
"as to whether this same cause I re-
fer to--the guarantees and the use
of military force-that has brought
about the dissension in the United
States is not also undermining the
league in Europe. Has not ex-
perience and discussion shown that
the time has arrived to reconsider this
part of the league foundation"
The basic need for such a military
alliance" Mr.. Hoover pointed out was
to control states which persist, m
armament which renders them cap
able of aggressive action"
He declared "the first and foremost
duty of the league" was reduction of
all armaments, and he suggested that
continuance as league
be conditional ON the achieve
ment of reduction within a speci-
fled time.
New Treaty Talk Bunk"
Mr.. Hoover declared that sooner or
ater the United States must ratify
he treaty of Versailles in some form,
ind that talk of negotiating a new
reaty was bunk"
1.-THE treaty of Versailles" he said,
is the charter of independence. Of
Poland, Czecho ?Slovakia and Finland,
md the warrant of increased nation
Il territory of several great nations.
1t is the guarantee of the dis
of four great autocracies
md no European nation is going to
:isk their revival. 1t is a mortgage
upon the enemy states, and they are
not going to offer the opportunity to
Germany, AUSTRIA Hungary, Turkey
md Bulgaria, to escape their debts
W intrigue at a new peace conference
League Essential Unit
1.-THE league of nations covenant
s an essential part of the treaty 1t
loes possess two functions: first, it
governs certain neutralized areas; it
the score of details of set
lement with enemy states. Its Sec
md function is it's provisions for pre-
yention of future war. The first phase
can no more be reopened than the
reaty itself. The second function re-
ates to the future and is subject to
he league organization itself.
"In the face of these conditions"
ne concluded, "cannot the republican
party strengthen it's own position by
adopting the definite constructive pol
icy Of ratification, subject to the min
Or reservations and wider vision of
strength of the league by excluding
The guarantees and their military en-
making membership
in the league conditional upon disarm
ament within a given period? Such
policies will protect American inde-
oendence, free US from every en-
except the use of our NOR
Il and economic strength to enforce
peace. II will leave our democratic
friends fencing upon the ground of
advocacy of a practical military alli-
,nce-upon which their safety devices
,nly further endanger the real val
lie of the league"