The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-06-09

Grafton the question OF establishing
such future relations with our asso-
ciates In the war IA would make for
the future peace OF the world. IL
this had been done we could have
had full peace with Germany three
months after the armistice. This
Mr.. Wilson prevented lie went to
Europe with the greatest opportu-
nifty for large service TO tho world
ever offered TO any one man. He
insisted on going himself or he
trusted no one else. We then had
the confidence, the gratitude and the
friendship OF every European nation,
which, thanks to the president, we
possess no longer. II Mr.. Wilson
had said: I'VE came here to help
you win this war In defense OF
civilization. The war is won. All we
now insist upon is that Germany
shall be put In such position as not
to be able again to threaten the
peace and freedom of mankind. Our
own questions in the American
hemisphere we will care for our
selves. We have interests in the far
east which we shall wish to have pro-
tccted, but your own European ques-
tions you must settle and we will ac-
agrue. We are not here seking terri
tory or to dictate what you shall do
in regard to either territory pr boun-
daries." Then indeed we should
have been entitled to the gratitude
of the world, not only for our decis-
i've services in the war but for gem
erous assistance in making n lasting
peace. But Mr.. Wilson did not do
this. lie had apparently only one
aim. TO be the maker OF league OF
which he should be the head. He was
determined ther eshould be a league
OF nations then and there, and In or
der to nullify the powers of the sem
ate given by the constitution of the
United States he decided to make the
league an integral part OF the treaty
OF peace with Germany. Thus he
presented to the senate, and intend
cd to presnt "A dilemma from when
he believed there was no escape. In
order tohave peace with Germany he
meant to compel the senate to accept
with it the league of nations. 1t was
indeed a difficult situation which he
thus created. But republican sena-
tors believed their duty to be clear
before them and did not shrink from
fulfilling 1t. Thirty-nine Of them in
March, 1919. signed a statement set
ting forth that the first draft of the
league as Mr.. Wilson brought it back,
announcing that 1t must be taken
Just as II stood, could not be accept
ed by the senate In that form. The
president returned to Europe with
this warning before him and before
the world He admitted few slight
changes in the covenant. for the
most part unimportant and some of
which made the second draft worse
than the first. lie forced the allied
and associated powers TO yield to his
demand that the covenant of the
league should be interviewer with
the treaty of peace. To accomplish
this he surrendered the principle OF
the freedom OF the seas--whatever
that may have been--to Cheat Brit
ain, and he made promises and con-
cessions to France-not yet fulfilled
which brought him the French
support. Having thus carried his
point abroad, he brought the treaty
with Germany home and laid 1t be-
fore the senate. To the great mass
of the American people he said:
This covenant OF the league of ma
tions will bring to the world a kast-
ing peace" Everyone desired last
ing peace and without pausing to
consider or even TO read the cove
nant, thousands upon thousands of
good people united in the demand
that the senate ratify and take the
league at once withiut considera-
ton. just as 1t stood. The republic
ans of the senate. perceiving the
dangers OF the league. determined to
resist Mr.. Wilson's demand, even at
the cost of delaying the treaty of
peace with Germany. They felt that
the one thing necessary was to have
the people understand the treaty.
that they might realize what 1t meant
and what it threatened. SO the
long debate began ana 1t has lasted
for more than a year. At the out
set that portion of the people who
wished instantaneous and unquai-
fled acceptance Of n covenant which
most of them had never read had
possession in large measure of the
press and other methods of obtaining <
publicity and thus were able to keep
up continual cry for immediate
ratification. The vocal part of the
community felt almost universally,
as they listened 10 each Others
voices, that the whole country was
with them. but they forgot the great
lndfl4culhte masses OF tne people VINO
went silently about their work and
their business, who do not write lot
ters to the newspapers or publish
circulars or spend millions In spread
ing their views through powerful or
gans and active associations but who
simply loved their country and
thought first of the interests OF
America, Tho debate in the senate
spread to them. They read the
speeches. they listened to the argu-
ments, and, what was far more i'm
portant, they began 20 read and dis
cuss the covenant Of the league
themselves, in the street. by the fire.
sides. wherever men and women
meet together. They began TO un-
derstand tho league. They began TO
know what 1t meant, They saw II
was an alliance and not n league for
peace, They saw that 1t did not
mention tho Hague conventions
which We all desired TO have restored
as foundations for further extern
sions. did nothing for the develop
ment of international law, nothing
for world court and judicial decis-
ions, and nothing looking towards
an agreement as to dealing with nom
justiciable questions. These real ad.
vances toward promoting peace.
these constructive measures were all
disregarded and the only court men
toned was pllshed into an ohscure