The New York herald., 1921-04-13

resolution by Congress to that effect.
with the qualifications 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 desertion of
those with whom we shared our sac
rifices In war, for these Powers are
already at peace
Merely to Declare Peace.
Such a. resolution should under
take to do no more than thus to
declare the state of peace. which all
America Graves. IT must add no
diflculty in effecting. with just
reparations, the restoration Tor
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 respon-
eibiltty for the war and the neces-
sity for just reparations already has
had formal and very earnest ex-
preston.
II would be unwise to undertake
10 make a statement Of future pol
icy with respect to European anairs
in such declaration Of state OF
peace. In correcting the failure OF
the executive in negotiating the
most important treaty In the history
OF the nation to recognize the consu-
tutional powers OF the Senate we
would go to the other extreme.
equally Questionable, IL Congress or
the Senate should assume the func-
tion OF the executive. Our highest
duty Is the preservation OF the con-
stituted powers Of each and the pro-
motion OF the spirit Of cooperation
SO essential to our common welfare.
II would be idle to declare Tor
separate treaties Of peace with the
Central Powers on the assumption
that these alone would be adequate,
because the situation is 80 involved
that our peace engagements cannon
ignore the Old World relationships
and 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 70
be the acceptance Of the oonfir1na-
tion of our rights and interests as
already provided and to engage un.
der the existing treaty, assuming OF
course that this can be satisfac-
toriIy accomplished by 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 request
to negotiate needed treaties OF peace
would be as superfluous and un-
necessary as it is technically inef-
fectiye, and know in my own heart
there is none who would wish TO
en1barrass the Executive in the per-
forinance OF his duty when we are
all SO eager to turn disappointment
and delay into gratifying accom-
plishment.
Lifo OF Nations Involved.
Problems relating to our for
eign relations bear upon the pres
ent and the future, and are of such
nature that the all important
future must be deliberately consid-
cred, with greater concern than
mere immediate relief from un-
happy conditions. We have wit
messed, yea, we have participated In
the supremely tragic episode Of war,
but our deeper concern Is in the
continuing life OF nations and the
development OF civilization.
We must not allow our vision to
be impaired by the conflict among
ourselves. 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 relation
ship have TO be asserted: they re-
qure establishment in compacts Of
amity our part in readJustment
and restoration cannot be ignored,
and must be defined.
With the supergoverning league
definitely rejected and with the
world so informed, and with the
status of peace proclaimed at home.
we may proceed to negotiate the
covenanted relationships so essen
tiaI to the recognition Of all the
rights everywhere Of our own ma
tion and play our full part In join
ing the peoples of the world In the
pursuits of peace once more.
Our obligations In cffecting Eu-
ropean tranquility. because of wars
involvemcnts. are not less inlpelling
than our part in the war itself.
This restoration must be wrought
before the human procession can
go onward again. We can be help
full because vie are moved by no
hatreds and harbor no fears Help
fuiness does not mean entangle-
nent, and participation In economic
adjustments does not mean sponsor
ship for treaty commitments which
do not concern us, and in which
we will have no part.
To Seek senate's Advice.
In an all impelllng wish to do the
most and best for our own repub-
lie and TO maintain its high place
among nations and at the same time
make the fullest offering of justice
to them. I shall invite in the most
practical way the advice of the
Senate. after acquainting 1t with all
the conditions to be met and ooli-
cations to be discharged, along with
our own rights to be safeguarded
Prudence in making the pro-
gramrne and confident cooperation
In making 10 effective cannot lead
us fer astray. We can render no
effective service TO humanity until
we prove anew our capacity for
cooperation, in the coordination OF