New-York tribune., 1921-12-10
Alliances

1--WE are going to succeed beyond
our fondest hopes" says President
Harding.
This is not an outburst of opti-
mistic enthusiasm, but the sober
statement Of one who knows-more-
over, of one whose work approaches
an end and who is little likely to ad-
vance claims in danger of quick
refutation.
No anti-climax has come to a
brilliant beginning. The last piece
Of news relates to success even
more striking than the naval limita-
tion agreement. This news is moth
ing less than the creation of four
power coalition for the guardianship
of the Pacific.
Leaving the content of the agree
ment for other consideration, let us
consider the method which has
brought such happy results and
judge of the applicability of this
method in other fields.
The outstanding feature Of the
understanding is that it is an alli-
ance entered into by the specific
nations that possess power. Hol-
land, Belgium, Portugal, Peru and
Chile are interested in tie Pacihc's
future and are to be reckoned as we'll
disposed. Yet they are not sigma
tories-are limited to mere indorse-
ment or adhering membership. They
are not able to put force behind de-
cisions arrived at.
The inclusions and the exclusions
are equally significant, and empha-
size truth too much obscured.
To help mankind it is not sufficient
to have good will; power must also
be present. Many idealists don't like
this fact, but dislike of a fact beats
vainly against it's solid reality.
Even the Deity could not conquer
evil if omnipotence were not celes-
tial attribute.
Many Americans, their minds con-
trolled by shop-worn historic for,
mulas, don't like the word "alli-
ance." But as universal dominion
by any single nation is intolerable.
only through alliances can the great
business at Washington be for
warded. There is no alternative.
And as the Pacific problem cannot be
solved by any country alone, so the
general peace problem cannot be
solved by any country alone. 1t
would take generations to build up
world opinion able to keep a fretful
world in order by moral suasion. If
we sit about a powder keg sepa-'
rately smoking and a spark from one
pipe falls into it, the explosion is as
rending as one that would come
from a dozen sparks.
The corollary Of a four-power Pa
cific alliance is a fve-power alliance
to stabilize Europe. How can any
one expect land disarmament except
by pledging, for example, help to
France If she is again called to de-
fend the exposed frontier of Western
civilization? No matter how the
question is considered, but one con-
cluslon seems possible.
President Wilson, after months
passed in mental obscuration, at last
half-heartedly admitted this, and
brought home the tripartite treaty.
But his enthusiasm, never active
quickly died. He put the covenant. a
secondary thing, first - exhausted
his influence in a vain effort to Sc
cure its unchanged acceptance.
When thus hamstrung, the tripartite
treaty, Of course, lost all chance of
ratification, and President HARDING
with one eye on the Senate, has seen
no chance to revive it. But neither
IN the Senate nor out Of the Senate
is there as much stupidity as is as
sumed. The fve-power idea. bv the
sheer weight of it's common sense
is daily securing new converts. Not
now, but soon; if not at this con-
ference, then at another.