New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-06
now, for it will enjoy the full CO.
operation Of the President, Of Con-
gress and Of the public.



final curtain, so far as concerns
participation by this country. on the
Wilson SHUTS League Of Nations.
He will not advise ratification Of the
Versailles treaty or entry into the
league.
AS member of the Senate Presi-
dent Harding voted twice for entry
into the league on conditions that
are now universally recognized, ex-
cept by few Wilson irreconcilables,
as reasonable and proper. From
every considerable nation has come
what Is tantamount to q pressing
invitation to this country to come in
on the Harding basis.
The responsibility for American
absence from the league is thus
singly and solely with those who
stubbornly supported Mr.. Wilson
when he said by acts that if we
would not go into the league without
reservations he would not allow
us to go in at all.
This was equivalent to fiat veto.
A non-partisan vote of sixty-four
members of the Senate was neces-
sary to ratification. Such vote
was at no time obtainable.
Those who blocked conditioned
entrance year ago also blocked
similar entrance this year. The
obstacle now in the way of condi.
toned ratification is the same as
that formerly in the way Of uncon-
di6oned ratification-namely, the in
ability to rally two-thirds Of the
Senate.
Whether right or whether wrong,
there is no chance, with public opin-
ion as it now is, of inducing two
thirds Of the Senate to vote to
ratify. To attempt such a thing
would be signal for re-outbreak
of the treaty controversy and lead
to no action. 1t is inherent in our
institutions, with respect to treaties
that there is great advantage with
the negative.
The Tribune long has been, and
still is, of the opinion that this
country should enter the league
But, possessing some sense of reali-
ties, it recognizes stone wall when
it sees one. President Harding would
beat his head vainly if he attempted
to force the country to join. No
matter what may be his personal
ideas, he is naturally unwilling to
embark on futility. 1t is not
within his power to dictate.
The existent league, through the
periodicity Of it's meetings and
it's international commissions, with
Americans as members, would have
tended to make us more information.
ally minded. Moreover, like other or
ganisms, it held out hope Of growth
and promised sensibly to diminish
war dangers by leading the nation!
to emphasize agreements of inter
ests rather than Emergencies. Blu
this is not to beat least so fal
as the existent organization is con.
cerned. We confront one Of tn,
might-have-beens of history. Ar
opportunity was not seized, and il
returned not.
But though the league is gone
the league idea remains. 1t is more
than ever manifest that this countr,
must function as part of the worle
machine. Aloofness cannot be. i
one door has been closed another
must be opened The Harding Ad
ministration will neither satisfy it
self nor the country if it does no
find substitute for the rejected.
This substitute, it would seem
may take the form Of solemn
declaration, with Congressional
sanction, that will make it clea
that in the presence Of q crisis suc]
as arose in 1914 this country will
do what it did in 1917.
Already with respect to Russi,
and Germany, in concrete cases, tn
new Administration has laid tn
foundations Of such @ policy. One
more are we making common Gauss
with nations entitled to trust, no
quarreling with them over small
matters. 1t is the fact of uniol
which is of supreme Importance
not the special way that union i
certificated.
The league is dead. But long liv,
the league idea!