The Colorado statesman., 1921-04-16

IN eliminate the burdens of heavy
armament. The United States ever
will be in harmony with such move
ment toward the higher attainments OF
peace. But we shall not entirely dis
card our agencies for defense unul
there is removed the need to defend.
We are ready TO cooperate win other
nations to approximate disarmament
but merest prudence forbids that we
dlsarm alone.
League Of Nations serapped.
In the existing League of Nations
world governing with its super-powers'
this republic will have no part. There
can be no misinterpretation, ana there
will be no betrayal of the deliberate
expression of the American people IN
the recent election and, settled in our
decision for, ourselves, IT is only falr
to say to the world In general ana 10
our associates in war in particular
that the league covenant can have no
sanction by us.
The aim to associate nations to pre-
vent war, preserve peace ana promote
civilization, our people most cordially
appIauded. We yearned for this new
instrument of justice, but we can have
no part in a committal to any agency
of force In unknown contingencies; we
can recognize no super-authority.
Manlfestly the highest purpose OF
the League of Nations was defeated In
linking 1t with the treaty of peace ana
making IL the enforcing agency of the
victors of the war.
Approves Peace Resolution.
"The American aspiration, indeed
the world aspiration, was an associa-
ton of nations, based upon the appll-
cation of Justice and right binding us
in conference and cooperation for the
prevention of war and pointing the
way to Il higher civilization and inter
national fraternity in which all the
world might share.
In rejecting the league covenant ana
uttering that rejection to our own peo-
pie, and to the world, we make no sur
render of our hope and aim for an as
ISOLATION to promote peace in which
we would most heartily join.
We wish it to be conceived in peace
and dedicated to peace, and Will re-
linuuish no effort to bring the nations
of the world into such fellowship, not
in the surrender of national SOW
ereignty but rejoicing in a nohler
exercise of it in the advancement OF
human activities amid the compensa-
tions of peaceful achievement
In the national referendum to which
/ have adverted we pledged out et-
forts toward such an association ana
the pledge will be faithfully kept. In
the plight of policy and performance
we told the American people we meant
to seek an early establishment of
peace. The United States alone among
the allied and associated powers con-
tinues in a technical state of war
against the central powers of Europe.
This anomalous condition ought not to
be permitted to continue.
To establish the state of technical
peace without further delay, l should
approve a declaratory resolution by
Congress to that effect, with the quail
ifications essential to protect all, our
rights.
Such action would be the simplest
keeping of faith with ourselves ana
could in no sense be construed as a
parting with those with whom we
shared our sacrifices in war, for these
powers are already at peace.
Such a resolution should undertake
TO do no more than thus declare the
- xuhich all America
Graves. 1t must add no difficulty in
effecting, with just reparations, the
restoration for which all Europe
yearns, and upon which the worlds re-
covery must be founded. Neither for
mer enemy nor ally can mistake Amer
ica's position, because our attitude as
to responsibility for the war and the
necessity for just reparations already
has had formal and very earnest ex-
preston.
1t would be unwise to undertake to
make a statement of future policy with
respect to European affairs in such a
declaration of state of peace.
Must Safeguard Essential Interests.
The wiser course would seem to be
the acceptance of the confirmation OF
our rights and interest as already pro-
vided, and to engage under the exist
ing treaty, assuming, of course, that
this can be satisfactorily accomplished
by such explicit reservations and mod
ifications as will secure our absolute
freedom from inadvisable commit
ments and safeguard all our essential
interests.
We must not allow our vision to be
impaired by the conflict among our
selves. The WEAKNESS at home and
the diSannointment to the world have