The Holbrook news., 1921-04-22
League of Nations Strapped.

inc aim 10 aSSOclale nations 10 pre-
 vent war, preserve peace and promote
 civilization, our people most cordially applauded. 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.
 Manifestly the highest purpose of
 the League of Nations was defeated in
 linking it with the treaty of peace and
 making it 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 appli-
 cation of justice and right, binding us in conference and cooperation for the prevention of war and pointing the
 way to a higher civilization and inter
 national fraternity in which all the
 world might share. \
 In rejecting the league covenant and 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 sociation to promote peace in which i've would most heartily join.
 We wish it to be conceived in peace and dedicated to peace, and will re- linquish no effort to bring the nations of the world into such fellowship, not in the surrender of national sov- ereignty but rejoicing in a nobler exercise of it in the advancement of human activities amid the compensa- tions of peaceful achievement.
 In the national referendum to which I have adverted we pledged out eff forts toward such an association and 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, should approve a declaratory resolution by Congress to that effect, with the qual- ifications essential to protect all our rights.
 Such action would be the simplest keeping of faith with ourselves and could in no sense be construed as a parting with those with whom we shared our sacrifices in war, for these r,0ro,.c r-o a1roadu a nQacp
 Such a resolution should undertake to do no more than thus declare the state of peace which all America craves. It 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 separations already has had formal and very earnest ex- pression.
 It would be unwise to undertake to make statement of future policy with respect to European affairs in such a declaration of a 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 l 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 weariness 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 estab- Iishment in compactS of amity; our part in readjustment and restoration be ignored and must be defined.
 With the super-governing league def nitely rejected and with the world so informed, ana with the StaIuS or peace proclaimed at home, we may proceed to negotiate the covenanted relation ships so essential to the recognition of all the rights everywhere of our na- ton, and play our full part in joining the peoples of the world in the pur- suits of peace once more.
 To the complete re-establishment of peace and it's contracted relationships, .o the realization of our aspirations for nations associated for world help ,ulness without world government, for world stability on which humanity's lopes are founded, we shall address ourselves, fully mindful of the high privilege and the paramount duty of he United States in this critical period If the world.