The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-04-13
MESSAGE AWAITS QUALIFICATION

President Hardings recommendation for declaring a state o
peace with Germany, by the passage OF a resolution, at the same
time accepting rights and privileges under the prevailing treaty
assuming, OF course, that this can be satsa ctoriy accomplished
by explicit reservations and notification presents a problem
which is calculated TO pcrplex the statesmen who will have to
solve it.
The course OF action. proposed. the president says, is in no
sense TO be construed as a "descrton OF our allies. In other
words, America IS TO make peace independently OF the allies, sim
ply declaring the state of war at an end and by resolution serving
notice upon Germany that we will insist upon all the rights and
privileges which would have been guaranteed to us il we had rati-
fed the treaty.
The policy proposed is fully as clear as that outlined by Mr.
Harding in his prediction speeches and no clearer; l. c, it Oh
fcrs nothing definite at all to point the way out OF the peculiar po-
stion in which the nation finds itself as result OF the failure OF
the senate to ratify the treaty. Is it possible for us to make
peace by resolution and at the same time stand shoulder to shout
der with those who were our comrades in arms during the war!
The president and his associates will have 70 furnish the answer.
Is il / possible for us to claim from Germany rights and priv
icges accorded to lis by a treaty which we refused to ratfyi
And claiming such rights and privileges. il the German govern
mcnt says no, are we 10 resort to force in order to secure com
pliance with our demandsl II not force, are we to enter into
negotiations, backed by nothing more than moral right for which
Germany long since demonstrated her contempt. thereby losing by
diplomacy much Of what we justly won at fearful cost? Here
again the answers must be forthcoming from the administration
1t may be that what Mr.. Harding has in mind is the ratification
OF the treaty with reservatons-his message may be so con-
strued-but he has carefully refraned from making a cIearcut
declaration in favor Of that course.
Mr.. Harding may have explicit plans for carrying ont the
policy he has outlined. II is possible that the astute statesmen
with whom he has counseed freely have devised ways and means
Tor accomplishing the objects he has in view without at the same
time involving the nation in the difficulties from which lie seeks
to steer clear, but if we look to his message for assurance on these
points we shall be disappointed. The president has indicated what
he wishes done, without committing himself regarding the means
Tor accomplishing 1t. His calm assumption that this can be sat
isfactorly accomplished by such explicit reservations and modih-
cations as will secure our absolute freedom against inadvisable
commitments and safeguard all our essential interests side
steps the crux Of the whole business and passes the problem on
to the senate.
Pending the action OF the senate, the country can indulge in
another period of "watchful waiting, meanwhile earnestly trust
ing that the sagacity and craftsmanship OF the administration
will be adequate for the accomplishment Of the difficult task which
the president has set for ii. One thing is certain: the, people
want the big questions of foreign policy, and especially those
growing out of the war, definitely settled. The president will go
down in history as one Of our greatest statesmen il he can steer
a course that will unity national sentiment and lead us back to the
safe position where politics stops at the waters edge" Mr..
Hardings problems are difficult; his opportunity for leadership is
large; his success will be measured, not by his initial message.
parts OF which are of doubtful meaning and susceptible of various
constructions, but by the acts of his administration. Until his
message is interpreted by concrete acts, as good Americans we
can afford to withhold judgment.