The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-13
apensations of peaceful achieve
WILL KEEP PLEDGE


 In the national referendum to which I have aVerted, we pledged our efforts toward such association, and the pledge will be faithfully kept In the lplight of policy and performance, we told the American people we meant to sock ar early establishment of peace. The United States alone among the allied and associated powers continues in a technical state of war against the central powers of Europe. This anom> alous condition ought not to be per- mitted to continue. To establish tho stAte of technical peace without fur~ ther delay, should approve a declar- atory resolution by Congress to that effect, with the qualification essential to protect all our rights. Such action would be the simplest keeping of faitN with ourselves, and could In no sense be construed as a assertion of those with whom we shared our sacrifices in war. for these powers are already a1 peace.
 Such resolution should undertake to do no more than thus to declare the state of peace, which all America graves. It must add no difficulty in effecting. with just reparations. the restoration for which all Europe yearns, and upon which the worlds re- GOV cry must be founded. Neither for mer enemy or ally can mistake Amer. 1 ica's position, because our attitude aa to responsibility for the war and the necessity for just reparutions already has had formal and very earnest ex. precision.
 It would be unwise to undertake to make a statement of future policy with respect to European affairs ln such a IAA ks-~x .H ,A, recting the failure of the legislative, in negotiation the most important treaty in the history of the nation, to recognize | he constitutional powers of the Sem ate, we would go to the other extreme, equally objectionable if Congress or the Senate should assume the function of the executive. Our highest duty Is the preservation of the constituted power of each and the promotion of 1.-the spirit of cooperation so essential to our common welfare.
 | It wuld be idle to declare for sepa- rate treaties of peace with the central powers on the assumption that these alone would be adequate, because the situation Is so involved that orr peace engagements cannot ignore the old world relationship and the settlements already effected. nor is 1t desirable to do so in preserving our own rights and contracting our future relationships. The wiser course would seem 10 be the acceptance, of the confirmation of our rights and interests as already pro- vided and to engage under the exist ing treaty. assuming. of course, that this can be safely accomplished uy such explicit reservations and notifications as will secure our absolute freedom from inadvisable commitments and safeguard all our essential interests Neither Congress nor the people needs my assurance that a request to negotiate needed treaties of peace would be as superfluous and unneces- sary as it Is technically ineffective, and know in my own heart there is none who would wish to embarrass the ex- ecutive in performance of his duty when we are all so eager to turn dis appointment and delay into gratifying accomplishment.
 FOREIGN RELATIONS q Problems relating to our foreign re. lations bear upon the present and the future, and are of such nature that the all-important future must be deiib. erately considered. with greater con. cern than mere immediate relief iron unhappy conditions. We have wit messed. yea, we have participated in tn, supremely tragic episode of war. bu our deeper concern Is in the continuing life of nations and the development o civilization.
 We must not allow our vision to b, Impaired by the conflict among our selves. The wcurfRegs at home auSd th