Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-16


enter the Paris league as it stands.
1.-THE American people shall accept it
as it stands. without changes, is an
additional effrontery. and the Amer
lean people are justified in asking
those who make it-'How many times
must we say nor
Il have said repeatedly that, when
elected, I viii Immediately summon
the best minds in America repre-
senting an all-American opinion, 10
consult and advise as to America
relationship to the present assocla.
ton of nations. to notifications OF
lit, or substitutes for it. l have said
| that I will consult the peoples rep
resentatives. duly elected, just as
the Constitution bids me to do. 1 re-
peat now that this will be my course,
| and it will be taken by me because
lit represents the American spirit.
because it is the only lawful ano
appropriate course that President
should take.
"One very good reason why our
country cannot now specify plan for
| our relationship in an assoc1auon OF
nations is because the worlds analrs
I are in a state of flux. and a detal!eo
plan today may become useless TO-
morrow, and embarraSS those VINO
have committed themselves to carry
lit out.
Committed to Policy.
Let me say that I am committed
Ito a policy of America doing every
thing that she can. acting eitner IN
dependently or with other nations,
to prevent future wars. place only
two qualifications upon her consrl-
button First Of all, her contribu-
ton should actually be something to
prevent war. We must not involve
ourselves in a form of association
which actually creates more olssen-
sion and more wars than it sup
presses or avoids.
The second qualification I place
upon Americas contribution. and
have said this INCREASINGLY. is that
America must retain the right to
exercise her own conscience. I have
said. over and over again, and re-
ceived by the argument that we
could agree to the Paris league and
then creep out of our bargain to
send our boys to Europe at the call
| of super-government.
ut is true that Congress could re-
fuse, directly or indirectly. to re-
spond to the world councils call for
armed forces. but that would be the
reputation Of a sacred moral obh-
CATION which we would take IN &C
cepting article x Such a proposal
ranks among the most contemplate
ever presented to an honest people.
II am against it, heart and mind
and soul. I am in favor Of the pre-
vention of war, but / am not in
favor Of the prevention Of war by a
means which believe to be inef-
fective at the cost Of American in
dependence and American honor.
President In Qa0teA.
ht<Yh 4.
mony on this very important Ques-
ton. / am aware that the President
has very recently said it is absolute
ly false that other nations may lead
us into war whether we win or not.
At was present at the one odicia1
discussion between the President and
the members Of the foreign relations
committee of the Senate. The Official
interview took place one year ago.
Senators were keen to know what we
were being let in for: Senator Knox
asked the President this question:
suppose it is perfectly obvious
that there is an external aggression
AGAINST some power, and suppose IT
il perfectly obvious that it cannot
be repelled except by force Of arms,
| would we be under any legal ohhSa-
ten to participated
THE President answered: No. sir;
| but we should be under an absolutely
! compelling moral obligation.
"A little later the President an
| swered an inquiry I made. with some
| suggestion of reprovaL "A moral OBJ
| legation is. of course, superior to le-
| gal obligation, and. if I may say so
F; Of greater binding force.
I Then we really are called to war
| regardless of Congress, or we are
! ready to repudiate an absolutely
compelling moral ;,s 9oligatlon' and
! TT is a strange thing that the
/ President and those who desire te
succeed him, with the adoption of his
! inflexible and lost program. should
| only be able to consider international
relations in terms OF war.
| Few Against RelatiensAip.
| There is no issue drawn between
| the Presidents league and no league
But we are against the league which
was negotiated and interviewer with
the peace treaty in defiance of friend
ly American warning.
/ Few people in America are op-
posed to a new relationship for ma
lions In the Senate we went long
way toward accepting the President.
league by safeguarding the interests
and freedom Of America But the
President and a body of his follow
ers rejected the covenant after ool
own republic was safeguarded. Thai
did not raise the issue of the league
or no association. but 1t did raise the
issue between supergovernment ant
free America.
"Europe has admitted the supreme
error. Europe has said there can b<
no effective league without us. ant
has asked that America suggest thu
new order and take the lead in max
ling such a plan for proper association
and co-operation that we may servt
the world and be secure at home.
"I believe this to be very possible
1.-The first task is to reject the impos'
sible. then unite America on prac.
ltical plan. The most progressive steT
must not be one persons creation, in.
isistently urged. We have witnessed
that sort of a failure. though happy
lone for America.
World Opinion Powerful.
But out Of common counsel. out OF
constitutional advising. out of sug'
Igesrions Of leading minds. in full re.
!, Injection and deliberation, We may
reasonably and confidently work ou
Ia plan to reassure ourselves and en-
lcourage humanity which looks to III
for unselfish leadership. The force
|of world opinion may be made NOR,
powerful than the force Of an armed
lalliance.
Europe understands our true ideals
knows our unsalfishness, measures
, GU power. These are the rcnexes o
our nationality. Its surrender woult
} make US impotent and destroy oul
Example. but it's maintenance is tn,
inspiration and the freedom Of Amer
! lica, and the worlds best promise o.
"a new and better relationship.