Taiban Valley news., 1921-04-22


fications essential to protect all our
rights"
President Harding argued against
including in the resolution any decla-
ration. of future policy toward Europe.
Such declaration coming from Con-
gress would be an assumption of a
function conferred on the executive.
President Harding laid emphasis up
lon domestic problems.
There is no more pressing problem,
le said, than to restrict national ex-
lenses to national income and at the
same time to lift the burdens of war
taxation Economy is to be 'the out
lstanding and ever impelling' purpose,
lie insisted.
| Creation of Department of Public
| Welfare was declared for by Harding
He called for encouragement of the
merchant marine, upbuilding of radio
communications, cooperation with the
state governments in the maintenance
rs well as building of good roads, crea-
Fion of a budget system, a protective
ariff, encouragement of commercial
and military aviation, an adequate
navy and steps to halt lynchng.
| These were the principal subjects
i touched on in the address, which was
about 1900 words in length and
large portion of which was devoted to
the related subjects of peace, the
League of Nations and the countrys
foreign policy.
President Harding, in one of the
most important speeches made in
years, touching upon many questions
vital to the nation, began his address
to Congress as follows:
We face our task of legislation and
administration amid conditions as diff
ficult as our government has ever con-
templated.
Under our political system the peo-
pie of the United States have charged
the new Congress and the new admin
iStration with the soution--the read
justment, reconstruction and restOra-
tion which must follow in the wake of
war.
1t may be regretted that we were
so lily prepared for wars aftermath,
so little made ready to return to the
ways of peace, but we are not to be
discouraged. Indeed, we must be the
more firmly resolved to undertake our
work with high hope, and invite every
factor in our citizenship to join in the
effort to find our normal, onward way
again.
The American people have appraised
the situation and with that tolerance
and patience which go with under
standing they will give. to us the in
fluence of deliberate public opinion
which ultimately becomes the edict of
any popular government. They are
measuring some of the stern necessi-
ties and will join in the give-and-take
which is so essential to firm re-estab-
lishment.
The Presidents discussion of the
peace question opened with a definite
declaration against the League of Ma
tions
In the existing League of Nations,
world governing with its super-powers,
this republic will have no part. There
can be no misinterpretation, and there
will be no betrayal of the deliberate
expression of the American people in
the recent election; and, settled in our
decision for ourselves, it is only fair
to say to the world in general, and to
our associates in war in particular,
that the league covenant can have no
sanction by us.
The aim to associate nations to 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 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.
"The American aspiration, indeed,
the world aspiration, was an associa-
tion 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
we would most heartily join.
To establish the state of technical
peace without further delay, 1 should
approve declaratory resolution by
Congress to that effect, with the quail
ifications essential to protect all our
rights.
To the complete re-establishment of
peace and its contracted relationships,
to the realization of our aspirations
for nations associated for world help
fuIness without world government, for
eAn I'll, |