Evening star., 1921-04-12
IS in &! s. and International Issues Discu

mutual tolerance, understanding,
charity. recognition of the inter-
dependence of the races and the
maintenance of the rights Of citi-
zenship lies the road to righteous
adjustment.
~ Army and Navy Bills.
1t is needless to call your atten-
tion to the unfinished business in
herited from the preceding Con-
gress. The appropriation bills for
Army and Navy will have your
early consideration.
Neither branch of the govern
ment can be unmindful Of the call
for reduced expenditure for these
departments of our national de-
fense. The government is in accord
with the wish to eliminate the bur-
dens of heavy armament. The
United States ever will be in har-
mony with such a movement to-
ward the higher attainments of
peace. But we shall not entirely
discard our agencies for defense
until there is removed the need to
defend. We are ready to cooper
ate with other nations to approx
mate disarmament, but merest
prudence forbids that we disarm
alone.
The naval program which had it's
beginning in what seemed the
highest assurances of peace can
carry no threat after the latest
proof of our national unselfishness.
The reasonable limitation of per-
sonnel may be combined with
economies Of administration to lift
the burdens of excessive outlay.
The War Department is reducing
the personnel Of the Army from
the maximum provided by law in
June, 1920, to the minimum direct
ed by Congress in a subsequent
enactment. When further reduc-
ton is compatible with national
security 1t may well have the
sanction OF Congress-, so that a
system of voluntary military train
ing may offer to our young man
hood the advantages of physical
development. discipline and COM
mitment to service, and constitute
the Army reserve in return for the
training.
Nearly two and a half years ago
the world war came to an end, and
yet we find ourselves today in the
technical states Of war, though ac-
tually at peace. while Europe is at
technical peace, far from tran
quillity and little progressed to-
ward the hoped-for restoration.
It ill becomes US to express inn
patience that the European bel
igerents are not yet in full agree
ment. when we ourselves have been
unable to bring constituted author
ity into accord in our own relations
to the formally proclaimed peace.
Take No Part In League.
Little avails in reciting the
causes of delay in Europe or our
own failure to agree. But there
is no longer excuse for uncertain
ties respecting some phases Of our
foreign relationship. In the exist
ing league of nations, world-gov-
erning with its superpowers. this
republic will have no part. There
can be no misint terpretation, and
there will be no betrayal Of the
delibeEate expression of the Amer
ican people in the recent election,
and. settled in our decision for our
selves, it is only fair to say to the
world in general, and to our asso-
ciates in war in particular, that
the league covenant can have no
sanction by US.
The aim to associate nations to
prevent war, preserve peace and
promote civilization our people
most cordially applauded. We
yearned for this new instrument
of justice. but we can have no part
in a committal to an agency Of
force in unknown contingencies:
we can recognize no super-author-
ity.
Manifestly the highest purpose
of the league of nations was de-
feated in linking it with the
treaty of peace and making it the
enforcing agency Of the viotors of
the war. International association
for permanent peace must be con-
csived solely as an instrumental
ity of justice. unaasociated with
the passions of yesterday, and not
so constituted as to attempt the
dual functions of political in
strun1ent of the conquerors and
of an agency of peace. There can
be no prosperity for the funda-
mental purposes sought to be
achieved by any such association
80 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.
American Aspiration.
The American aspiration, in