The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-04-20
HARDING REJECTS LEAGUE
IN MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
Eay0rs Knox Resolutions To
Restore Peace; Then an As.
sOCiatOiu of Nations

Congress, would approve "declara-
tory resolution" by Congress, with
qualifications essential to protect all
our rights" which would end the
technical state of war against the
central powers OF Europe"
The President added, however,
that sit would be idle to declare for
separate treaties of peace with the
central powers on the assumption
alone that these would be adequate
because the situation is so involved
that our peace engagements cannot
ignore the old world relationships
and the settlements already effected
nor is it desirable to do so in pre-
serving our own rights and con-
tracing our future relationships.
Although declaring unreservedly
against the existing League of Ma
tions," the President said: 1.-The
wise course would seem to be tho
acceptance of the confirmation OF
our rights and interests as already
provided, and TO engage under the
existing treaty, assuming, of course.
that this can be satisfactorily ac-
complished by such explicit reserva-
tons and notifications as we'll Sc
cure our absolute freedom from in
advisable commitments and self
guard all our essential interests"
An association OF nations, the
President said. could not be found
ed until the world was at peace.
Peace Without Delay"
The anomalous condition ought
not to be permitted to continue. To
establish the state of technical
peace without delay, | should APP
prove a declaratory resolution by
Congress to that effect, with the
qualifications essential to protect
all our rights. Such action would !
be the simplest keeping of faith
with ourselves and could in no
sense be constructed as a desertion !
OF those with whom we shared our
sacrifices in war. for these powers
are already at peace.
Such a resolution should under
take 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
reparations, the restoration for
which all Europe yearns and upon
which the worlds recovery must be
founded. Neither former enemy
nor ally an mistake Americas
opinion because our attitude as to
responsibility for the war and the
necessity of just reparations already
has had formal and very earnest ,
expression.
1T would be unwise to undertake
10 make such a statement of future
policy with respect to European af- :,
iairs lin such a declaration of :,
state of peace. In correcting the :.
failure of the executive in negotiat-
ing the most important treaty in :,
the history of the nation, to recog- r
nize the constituted powers of the
senate we would 90 to the other
extreme. equally Objectionable, if :.
Congress or the Senate should as
iume the function of the executive.
)ur highest duty is the preserva-
ion OF the constituted powers of ii
zach and the promotion of the spir- tn
of cooperation so essential to our W
ommon welfare. br
1T would be idle to declare for IN
eparate treaties of peace with the pc
entral powers on the assumption sa
hat these alone would be adequate Of
ecause the situation is so involved ISL
hat our peace engagements cannot ex
snore the old world relationship sy
nd the settlements already effect
d, nor Is it desirable to do so in Pi
reserving our own rights and con- tn
'acting our future relationships. tr!
THE Wiser Course"
The wiser course would seem to pr
e the acceptance of the confirma- lei
on OF our rights and interests as oh
lready provided. and to engage TO
nder the existing treaty, assum- mi
~. of course. that this can be sat de
accomplished by such ex- wi
licit reservations a9d notifications de
) will secure our absolute freedom pc
'om inadvisable commitments and ia
Jacquard all our essential inter- m'
SITS. sa
Neither Congress nor the people pr
eeds my assurance that a request en-
negotiate needed treaties of peace pc
ould be as supernuous and unnec- tn
,sa ~ m N "a technically inaffactiva Dr