The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-01-17
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Special Despatch 10 The Reformer.)
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE practi-
cal certainty that Charles Evans Hughes
viii be secretary of state in the Harding
cabinet has led some members of the SEN
ate in the last few days to take a retro
spcctive glance at the views of the former
| associate justice, not his views on legal
or political questions, but his utterances
on foreign policy which, during the cam
paign had a passing value but which now
will become the basis of American action
after March f
1t should be remembered" wrote Mr..
| Hughes on one occasion, that the great
| protection against war for a considerable
| period Of years will be found not, in any
| form of words, that may now be adopted,
| however desirable these may be, but in
economic conditions, which are an assur-
ance that for considerable time at least
we shall not have recurrence of world
strife. The danger now hes he added.
not in the menace of force employed
| TO. further imperial designs, but in the
! disorder due to a break up and the re-
moval OF traditional restraints and the
/ tendency To revolution within states. In
making commitments it should be remem-
| bered that while 1t IS highly important
that at this time we should realize that
/ 1t Is practicable to promote peace and Sc
cure stable conditions we should be eau
/ tlous IN making promises which are to be
/ reduced in unkuown contingencies
some OF the main points IN Mr..
| Hughes criticism OF the present cove
nant o. the league Of nations are as fol-
lows.
3 ~ emitting the guarantee in Article
10.
! ~ Suitable limitation as to the field
OF the league inquiries and action so
as to leave no doubt that internal con
Germs Of states such as immigration and
tariff laws are not embraced.
! Oh Provision that TO foreign power
shall acquire by consent. purchase OF in
any other way, any possessions on the
American continent or the islands ada
cent thereto.
a. Provision that the settlement of
purely American questions shall he re
mIttcd primarily to the american nations.
and that European nations shall not inter
vene unless requested to do so by the
American nations
! 90 Provision that no member of the
league shall be constituted a mandatory
without it 5 consent and no. European or
! Asiatic power shall be constituted a man
datory OF any American people.
| co. Explicit provision that unanimous
agreement or decision Is required.
| O. Provision that any member Of the
| league may withdraw at its pleasure on
specified notice.
SDeaking particularly Of Article 10 Mr..
| Hughes said he regarded the guarantee IN
! Article ten as "a trouble breeder and not
a pcace-maker." He declared that he be
| ieved ii to be unnecessary and uuwIsc
| and that there Is little ground to sup
| pose that it will prevent war-on the con-
trary, it IS likely 10 prove illusionaIy and
to create disappointment and a sense OF
! injury and injustice on the part OF those
who are led to place confidence IN 1t.
! Here is the paragraph, however, which
makes 1t possible for Mir. Hughes to an
/ preach the Harding campaign view OF the
/ league issue and his own early inclnations
toward modification of the present cove
nant of the league: Il think that 1t IS
Il fallacy to suppose that helpful cOopera-
/ ton in the future will be assured by the
attempted cOmpJllsIon of an intieNIble rule:
/ Rather will such cooperation depend
upon the fostering of firm friendships,
/ springng from an appreciation OF com
munity of ideals. interests and purposes.
and such friendships are more likely to
be promoted bv freedom of conference.
than bv the effort to create hard and fast
! engagements
| The foregoing is sufficiently broad to
permit Mr.. Hughes to decide eventually
| that freedom of Justice without Obligation
| or commitment can be obtained by so
modifying the covenant as to leave Amer
| lea a free hand IN every thing yet permit
ting her to sit as a memner of an organi-
7ation which is already in operation; or
it may permit Mr.. Hughes to ask other ma
lions in the league TO JOIN new assoeia-
ton which has much less specific powers
| than the present league and one that IS
patterned after the Hague conferences.
The selection of Mr.. Hughes as secre-
tary of state is due largely to the fact that
his record is general enough and his ut
terances broad enough to give him free
hand in taking advantage of such ma
| chinery for international cooperation as
! is already in existence or in the setting up
of new processes fitted to. the campaign
pledges of American freedom OF action, IN
| all international affairs. One thing. Is
sure-neither the LODGE reserva tionists
nor the irreconcilablcs can claim that Mr..
Hughess words make it impossible tor
him to accept their point Of view and
| there are plenty of middle-oft he-road
senators who think the Hughes Ti mind
him 70 lead the party out of the wilder
ness Of dssegsqn and turn the ,d thought hit
| of reconstruction.