The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-04-13

Approves Peace by Reso.
Iution of Congress
SEPARATE PEACE
WiTH ENEMIES

with Central Powers Without En-
dnnsoriRg tho Position Of This
Csantry's Allies.
Washington, April 12.--president
Harding addressing an extraordinary
session of tho sixty-seventh congress
today declared againts the existing
League OF Nations and favored a sep
arate peace with the central powers.
In the existing League Of Nations
world governing with its super DOW
ers,' said the President, "thfs repub-
nc Will have no part There can be
no Betrayal Of tho deliberate oynros-
sion or the American people In the re-
cent election; and, settled in our de-
clsion for ourselves, it IS only fair TO
say to the world in general and to our
associates in war in particular that tho
leesue covenant can have no sanction
Dy us. Manifestly the highest pur
pose of the League OF Nations was de-
feated In linking it with tho treaty or
peace and making it the enforcing
agency Of tho victors Of the war
lhero can be no prosperity for the
rundamental purposes sought to be
achieved by any such association so
long as 1t Is an organ or any pafticu
lar treaty. or committed 10 the attain
ihehl or the special aims Of any nation
or group Of nations. :. In rejecting
the league covenant and uttering that
rejection to our own pcople and to the
world, we mako no surrender Of our
nope and aim for an association to
promote peace in which we would most
heartily join. In the national
referendum (the last election) we
pledged our efforts toward such asso-
citation and the pledge will be faith
fully kept.
In the plight OF policy and perform
ance we told tho American people we
meant to sock an early establishment
OF peace. The United States alone
among tho allied and associated DOW
ers continues In q technical state Of
war against tho Oentral powers OF
hurope. This analo8ous condition
ought not TO .be permitted TO continue,
10 establish tho Otate Of technical
peace without delay. I aheuld approve
o Aeelnratory resolution by oongress
10 that eject with tho qualifications
essential to protoot all eur rights.
Such action would be the simplest
keeping Of faith wibh rselves and
could In no eeRse DO coastrued as q
desortion of bhoso with whom We
shared our saerieees in war. for these
powers are already at peace
Such resolution should undor-
take to do no more than thus to de-
clare the state OF peace which all
Americans crave 1t must add no diff
hculty in effecting, with Just repara-
tions, 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 attitude as TO responsibility for
the war and the necessity for inst re-
lparations already has had formal and
very earnest expression.
1T would DO unwise TO undertake
to make such a statement OF future
policy with respect to European affairs
in such declaration OF state OF
peace. In correcting tho failure OF
tho executive in negotiating the most
important treaty in tho history OF the
nation, to recognize the constituted
powers Of the senate we would go to
the other extreme, equally objection
able If congress- or the senate ehould
assume the function Of the executive
Our highest duty ie the preservation
Of the constituted powers OF each and
the promotion OF the spirit OF CO.
operation, SO essential to our common
welfare
ut would be idle to declare for sep
arate treaties OF peace with tho CEN
trail powers on tho assumption that
these alone would be adequate, be-
cause the situation Is 80 involved that
our peace engagements can not ig-
more to old world relationship and the
settlements already affected nor Is it
desirable to do so in preserving our
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