Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-13

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 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 There can be no
prosperity for the fundamental pur-
poses sought to be achieved by any
such association so long as it is an
organ of any particular treaty, or
committed to the attainment of the
special aims of any nation or group
of nations. - -
In rejection of the league covenant
and uttering the rejection to our own
people, and to the world we make no
surrender of our hope 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 an association
and the pledge will be faithfully
kept. In the plight of policy and
performance we told the American
people we meant to seek an 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 81 Europe. The an
amadeus condition ought not to be
permitted to continue. To establish
the state of technical peace without
delay, l should approve a declaratory
| 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.
"Such a resolution should under
/ take to do no more than thus to de-
clare the state of peace which all
| America Graves. 1t must add no
| difficulty in effecting, with just
PREPARATIONS, 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 just
! reparations already has had formal
! and very earnest expression.
! 1T would be unwise to undertake
| to make such a statement of future
policy with respect to European af-
fairs in such a declaration of a 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 con-
stituted powers of the Senate, we
would go to the other extreme
| equally Objectionable, if Congress OF
the Senate should assume the func-
ton of the executive. Our highest
duty is the preservation of the con-
stituted powers of each and the pro-
lection of the spirit of cooperation
so essential to our common welfare
| 'It would be idle to declare for
separate treaties of peace with the
central powers on the assumption
that these alone would be adequate
because the situation is so involved
that our peace engagements cannot
ignore the old world relationship and
! the settlements already effected, nor