Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-04-14
Summary Of HardlngS
AddreSy TO Congress

ticular 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 purposes sought to be
achieved by any such association so
long as it is an organ OF any par
ticular treaty. or committed to the
attainment of the special aims OF
any nation or group of nations.
I'm rejecting the league covenant
and uttering that rejection to our
people, and to the world, we make
no surrender of our hopes and aim
| for an association to promote peace
| in which we would most heartily
| Join.
TN the national referendum (the
! last e1ection) we pledged our efforts
| toward such 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 con-
| tinues in a technical state of war
against the central powers of Eu-
Unwise to Undertake
'"Ehis anomalous condition ought
! not to be permitted to continue. To
establish the state of technical peace
| without delay. [ should approve a
| declaratory resolution by congress to
| that effect with the qualifications es-
sentia1 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 desertlon
of those with whom We shared on"
| sacrifices in war, for these powers
| are already at peace.
! Such q 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 diff
| ficulty in effecting, with just repara-
| lions, 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 q 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 i'll the history
OF the nation, to recognize the con-
st1tuted powers of the senate we
would go to the other extreme, equal
ly Objectionable, if congress or the
senate should assume the function of
the executive. Our highest duty is
the preservation of the constituted
powers of each and the promotion
OF the spirit of cooperation, so es-
sential to our common welfare.
Against Separate Treaties
sit would be idle to declare for
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
is it desirable to do so in preserving
our own rights and contracting our
future relationships.
"The wiser course would seem to
be the acceptance of the Confirma-
ton of our rights and interests as
already provided and to engage dnder
the existing treaty, assuming, of
course, that this can be satisfactorily
accomplished by such explicit reser-
vations and notifications as will Sc
cure our absolute freedom from mad
visable commitments and safeguard
all our essential interests.
Neither congress nor the people
need my assurance, that request
to negotiate needed treaties of peace
would be as superfluouS and unneceS-
| sary as it is technically ineffective,
and [ know in my own heart there
is none who would wish to embarras SIS
the executive in the performance of
his duty when we all are SO eager to
turn disappointment AND delay into
gratifying accomplishment.
"The WEAKNESS at home and the
disappointment to the world have
been compensated in the proof that
1n,- #
the heritage of nationality but our
rights in international relationship
have to be asserted; they require es-
tablishment in compacts Of amity;
our part in reimbursement and restora-
ton cannot be ignored, and must be
defined.
with the super-governing league
definitely rejected and with the
world so informed and with the
status of peace proclaimed at home,
| we may proceed to negotiate the COW
enanted relationships SO essential to
the recognition of the rights every
where of our own nation and play
our full part in Joining the peoples
of the world in the pursuits of
peace once more. Our obligations in
| effecting European tranquility, be-
cause of wars inducements, are no.
| less impelling than our part in the
war itself. This restoration must
| De Wrought before the human pro-
! cession can go onward again. We
can be helpful because we are NOV
ed by no hatreds and harbor no
fears. Helpfulness does not mean
ENHANCEMENT, and participation in
economic adjustments does not meet
sponsorship for treaty commitments
which do not concern US and in
which we will have no part.
Seeks senate's Advice
TN an all impelling wish to do the
most and best for our own republic
and maintain its high place among
nations and at the same time make
the fullest offering of justice to
them, / shall invite in the most prac-
teal way the advice of the senate,
after acquainting it with all the
conditions to be met and obliga-
tons to be discharged, along with
our rights to be safeguarded. Pru-
dence in making the program and
confident cooperation in making it
effective cannot lead us far astray.
We can render no effective service