The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-22


among the compensations Of peacefu
achievement.
To Keep Pledge.
In the national referendum to which
I have adverted we pledged our eff
forts toward such association, ant
the pledge will be faithfully kept. II
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 wal
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, | should
approve a decIaratory resolution by
congress to that effect, with the quail.
fications essential to protect all our
rights. Such action would be the sim
plest keeping of faith with ourselves
and could in no sense be construed as
a desertion of those with whom we
shared our sacrifices in war, for these
powers are already at peace.
To Declare Peace. ....
Such a resolution should undertake
to do no more than thus to declare the
state of peace, which all America
Graves. 1t must add no difficulty in
effecting, with just PREPARATIONS, the
restoration for which all Europe
yearns, and upon which the worlds
recovery must be founded. Neither
former enemy nor ally can mistake
Americas position, because our atti'
tude as to the responsibility for the
war and the necessity for just repara.
lions already has had formal and very
earnest expression.
1t would be unWise to undertake to
make a statement of policy with re-
Spect to European affairs in such a
declaration of state of peace. In COR
recting the failure of the executive in
negotiating the most important treaty
in the history of the nation to recog.
nize the constitutional powers Of the
senate, we would go to the other ex-
IRENE, equally Objectionable, If con-
gress or the senate should assume the
function of the executive. Our high
est duty is the preservation of the
constituted powers of each, and the
promotion of the spirit of cooperation
so essential to our common welfare.
Save Parts of Treaty.
1t would be idle to declare for sep
arate treaties of peace with the CEN
trail powers on the assumption that
these alone would be adequate, be-
cause the situation is so involved that
our peace engagements cannot ignore
the old world relationship and the set
Elements already effected, nor is it de-
sirable to do so in preserving our own
rights and contracting our future re-
lationships.
The wiser course would seem to be
the acceptance of the confirmation of
our rights and interests already pro-
vided and to engage under the existing
treaty, assuming, of course, that this
can be satisfactorily accomplished, by
such explicit reservations and modiff-
cations as will secure our absolute
| freedom from inadvisable commit
ments and safeguard all our essential
| interests. ...
For Accomplishment.
Neither congress nor the people need
my assurance that request to negO-
| tiate treaties of peace would be as
superfluOus and unnecessary as it is
| technically ineffective, and l know in
my own heart there is none who would
wish to embarrass the executive in
the performance of his duty when we
are all so eager to turn disappOint-
ment and delay into gratifying accom-
plishment.
Keeping Vision Clear.
We must not allow our vision to
be impaired by the conflict among
ourselves. The WEAKNESS at home and
the disappointment to the world have
been compensated in the proof that
this republic will surrender none of
the heritage of nationality, but our
rights in international relationship
have to be asserted; they require es-
tablishment in compacts of amity; our
part in readjustment and restoration
cannot be ignored, and must be de-
| fined.
| With the supergoverning league
definitely rejected and with the world
so informed, and with the status of
peace proclaimed at home, we may
proceed to negotiate the covenanted
relationships so essential to the recog-
milton of all the rights everywhere of
our own nation and play our full part
in joining the peoples of the world in
the pursuits of peace once more. Our
obligations in effecting European
tranquility because of wars involve
ments are not less impelling than our
part in the war itself. This restora-
ton may be wrought before the human
procession can go onward again. We
can be helpful because we are moved
by no hatreds and harbor no fears
Helpfulness does not mean entangle-
ment, and participation in economic
adjustments does not mean sponsor.
ship for treaty commitments which
do not concern us and in which We
will have no part.
| Advice of Senate.
In an all impelling wish to do the
most and best for our own republic
and maintain its high place among ma,
lions and at the same time make the
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