Norwich bulletin., 1921-04-13

the preceding congress The appropri- ation bills for army and navy will have your early consideration
 Neither branch of the government can be unmindful of the call for reduced o. penditure for the depart,nants Of our national defense. The government is in accord with the wish to eliminate the burdens of heavy armament. The Unit ed States ever will be in harmony with such movement towards the higher att tainments of peace. But we shall not entirely discard our agencies for defense until there Is removed the need to de- fend. We are ready to cooperate with other nations to approximate disarma- ment. but merest prudence forbids that We disarm alone.
 The naval programme which has its beginning in what seemed to be the high est assurances of peace can. carry no threat after the latest proof of our na- tional unselfishness The remarkable linn itation of personnel may be combined with economies of administration to life the burdens of excessive outlay.
 Reduction of Army.
 The war department is reducing the personnel of the army from the maxi mum provided by law in June, 1920, in subsequentaf tionn metctene
 to the minimum directed by congress in a subsequent enactment. When fur. ther reduction is compatible with na' tional security it may well have the sanction of congress so that system of voluntary military training may offel to our young manhood the advantages of physical development, discipline anC commitment to service and constitute the army service in return for thu training.
 ] Cannot sanctien Covenant.
 Little, avails in reciting the causes q delay in Europe or our own failure tt agree. But there is no longer excuse fo uncertainties respecting some phases O our foreign relationship. In the existin; league of nations, world-governing wit Its super powers, this republic will hav no part. There can be no risinterpre tation and there will be no betrayal 0 the deliberate congressional the Ameri can people in the recent election; ana settled in our decision for ourselves is only fair to say to the world in gen eral. and toour associates in war n par ticular. that the league covenant cal have no sanction by us.
 The aim to associate nations to pra vent war, preserve peace, and prou1ot civilization our people most cordially applauded. We yearned for this neV
 instrument of justice but we can hay no part in a committal to an agency 0 . force in unknown contingencies we ca recognize no super authority.
 Manofestly the highest purpose of tn league of nations was defeated in link
 ing it with the treaty of peace and mab ing 1t the enforcing agency of the vic
 tors of the war. International assc , citations for permanent peace must b conceived solely as an instrumentalia 2 of justice, unassociated with the pas
 sions of yesterday, and not so const tuted as to attempt the dual function of political instrument of the COT
 querers and of an agency of peac
 There can be no prosperity for tn fundamental purposes sought to achieved by any such association so lon l, , as 1t is an organ of any particuls ! treaty. or committed to the attainmer of the special aims of any nation | group of nations.
 Hopes For World Association.
 The American Aspiration. indeed, tf world aspiration, wa1 an association nations, based upon the application g justice and right, binding us in cofe ence and cooperation for the preventiC | of war and pointing the way to a higl g CT civilization and international frate l nifty in which all the world migl share. In rejecting the league covel e ant and uttering that rejection to oJ e own people and to the world we nal no surrender ofour hope and air f' nassociation to promote peace f which we would most heartily joi
 We wish it to be conceived in pea'
 and dedicated to peace, and will r S linquish no effort to bring the natiol t of the world into such fellowship, n in the surrender of national sovereign , | but rejoicing in a nobler exercise of l. in the achievement.
 - No Separate Treaties Alone s 'It would be idle to declare for SC = arate treaties of peace with the centr r. powers on the assumption that the e alone would be adequate. because the si
 uation is so involved that our reace e gagement scannot ignore the old wor 't relationship and the settlements alrea' d effected nor is it desirable to do 50
 preserving our own rights and contrac ing our future relationships. The wis
 course would seem to be the acceptan of our rights and interests as alrea' e provided and to engage under the existii H treaty. assuming of course, that this c Il be satisfactorily accomplished by such e p1icit reservations and notifications will secure our absolute freedom from i e advisable commitments and safeguard
 our essential interests.
 Neither congress nor the people ne $ my assurance that a reuest to negotia e needed treaties of peace be as superh
 ous and unnecessary as 1t is technical
 ineffective and I know in my own hea e there is none who would wish to embs "a rass the executive in the performance ,- his duty when we all are eager to tul l. disappointment and delay into gratifyt n accomplishment. / C Our Rights Must Be Maintained
 'The weariness at home and the di
 appointment of the world have be- O compensated in the proof that this T
 public will surrender none of the heritai 2 of nationality, but our rights in intern - tional relationship have to be asserte
 they require establishment in compac