The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1921-04-23

Ito etlmlQ0te tuc Vut0uue " =. ss~'s
armament. The United States ever
will be In harmony with such p move
uent toward the higher attainments Of
peace, hut we shall not entirely dis
card our agencies for defense until
there Is removed the need to defend.
We are ready to cooperate with other
nations to approximate disarmament,
but ,nerest prudence forblds TINT we
dIsarm alone. 49,
League ss Nstloes serappsd.
In the. existing League of Nations,
world soyerning wifh III superpowers,
this repnbiis Will have no part. There
can I've no mislnterprstation, and there
Will be no betrayal OF the deliberate
expression Of the American people in
the recent election; and, settled In DUR
decision for ourselves, Il b Only fair
10 say to the world In general, and to
our associates In war 10 particular.
that the league covenant eaA have NO
sanction by US.
The aim to associate nations % pre-
vent war, preserve peace and procnote
|civtlixatIon, our people Most cordially
|applauded. We yenrned for this Snew
instrument OF justice. but we can have
no part In committal tO.any agency
of force in unknown contingencies; wo
can recognize no super-authortty.
Aanifes&ly the highest purpose OF
the League Of Nations was defeated IN
linking II With the treaty Of peace and
making II the enforcing agency Of the
victors Of the war. ~
Approves Psaes Hsseavtlen.
.4rhe American aspiration, indeed.
the world aspirations. was an associa-
ton of nations, based upon the app!i-
cation Of Justice and right. binding Us
In conference and cooperation for the
prevention of war and pointing the
way to q higher civilization and inter
national fraternity In which all the
world might share.
In rejecting the league covenant ana
utterins that rejection to our own peo-
ole, and to the world. We make NO sur
render Of our hope and aim for an as
ISOLATION to promote peace in which
we would most heartily Join.
We wish 1t II be conceived In peace
and dedicated to peace, and will re-
inouIsh no effort to bring the nations
Of the world into such Fellowship. not
In the surrender Of national SOW
ereignty but rejoicing In q nobler
exercise of 1t in the advancement Of
human activities amid the compensa-
lions Of peaceful achievement.
In the national referendum to which
I have alverted we pledged out ef.
forts toward such nm association and
the uIedse will be faithfully kept. In
the plight OF policy and performance
we told the American people we meant
to seek an early cstablishmsnt OF
peace, The United States alone among
the allied and associated powers con.
tinues In technical state Of war
against the central powers Of Europe.
This, anomalous condition ought. not to
be permitted to continue.
TO establish the state Of technical
peace without further delay, I should
approve a declarntory resolution BY
Congress- to that effect. with the quai-
ifications essential to protect all our
rights.
Such action would be the simplest
keeping Of faith with ourselves and
could In no sense be construed AZ q
parting with those with whom we
shared our sacrifices in war, for these
powers are already at peace.
Such q resolution should undertake
to do no more than thus declare the
state Of peace which all America
Graves. 1t must add mo- difficulty In
sffectIng. with just reparatlons, the
restoration for which all Europe
yearns, and upon which the worlds re-
covery must be founded. Neither for
mer enemy nor ally can mistake Amer
ica's position, because our attitude ~
to responsibility for the war and the
necessity for Just reparations already
has had formal and very earnest ex-
preston.
1t would be unwise to undertake to
make statement Of future policy with
respect to European affairs In such. q
declaration of a state Of peace.
Must Safeguard 9sssWtiai intsrssts.
lno WlDeT cOurse WVWu hcem " O0
the acceptance Of the confirmation Of
our rights and interest 40 already pro-
vided, and to engage under the exist
ing treaty. assuming. Of course. that
this can be satisfactorily accomplished
by such explicit reservations and mod.
iflcations as will secure our absolute
freedom from inadvlsable commit
ments and safeguard all our essential
interests. ~
We must not allow our vision to be
impaired by the conflict among our
selves. The WEAKNESS at home and
the disappointment to the world hare
been compensated In the proof that
Ills republic will surrender none Of
the heritage Of nationality, but our
rights In international relationship