New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-13
of President Hardings First Message to 9th Congress

could in no sense be construed as .
desertion of those with whom we
shared our sacrifices 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. It must add no diff
Guilty in effecting, with just repara-
tons, the restoration for which all
Europe yearns and upon which the
worlds recovery must be founded.
Neither former enemy nor ally can
mistake Americas pos ton, because
our attitude as to responsibility for
the war and the necessity for just
reparations already has had formal
and very earnest expression.
It would be unwise to undertake to
make a statement Of future policy
with respect to European affairs in
such declaration of a state OF
peace. In correcting the failure Of
the Executive, in negotiating ths
most important treaty in the history
Of the nation, to recognize the cor
stitutional powers OF the Senate We
would go to the other extreme,
equally Objectionable, if Congress or
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-
motion of the spirit of cooperation
SO essential TO our common welfare.
1t would be idle to declare for
separate treaties OF peace with the
Central Powers on the assumption
that these alone would be adecr te,
because the situation is so involved
that OUT peace engagements cannot
ignore the Old World relationship
and the settlements already effected,
nor is it desirable to do so in pre-
serving our own rights and con-
tracing our future relationships.
Explicit Reservations to
Safeguard Our Interests
The wiser course would seem to
be the acceptance of the confrma-
ton Of our rights and interests as
already provided, and to engage
under the existing treaty, assum-
ing, of course, that this can be
satisfactorily accomplished by such
explicit reservations and modifca-
tons as will secure our absolute
freedom from inadvisable CONT
ments and safeguard all our es-
sential interests.
Neither Congress nor the people
needs my assurance that a request
to negotiate needed treaties of peace
would be as superfuous and IN
necessary as it is technically inef-
fective, and know in my own heart
there is none who would wish to
embarrass the Executive in the per-
Torrance Of his duty, when we are
all so eager to turn disappointment
and delay into gratifying accom-
rlishment
Problems relating to our foreign
regulations bear upon the present
and the future, and are of such a
nature that the all important future
must be deliberately considered,
with greater concern than mere i'm
mediate relief from unhappy condi-
tons. We have witnessed-yea, we
have participated-in the supremacy
tragic episode Of war, but our deeper
concern is in the continuing life Of
rations and the development Of
civilization
We must not allow our vision to
De impaired by the conflict among
ourselves. The WEAKNESS at home
and the disappointment to the world
have been compensated in the proof
that this republic will surrender
none of the heritage Of nationality.
but our rights in international re-
lationship have TO be asserted thew
require establishment in compacts
OF amity; our part in readjustmen.
and restoration cannot be ignored,
and must be defined
With the super government league
definitely rejected and with the world
SO informed, and with the status Of
peace proclaimed at home. we nav
proceed to negotiate the covenanted
relationships so essential TO the rec.
ignition of all the rights everywhere
OF our own nation and play our full
part in joining the peoples of tho
world IN pursuits of peace once more.
Our obligations in efecting Euro
pean tranquility. because of wars
inducements, are not less impelling
than our part in the war itself. This
restoration must be wrought before
the human procession can 20 onward
again. We can be helpful because
we are moved by no hatreds and har-
Dor nc fears. Helpfulness does not
mean entanglement, and participa-
ton IN economic adjustments does
not mean sponsorship for treaty COM
mltments which do not concern Us.
and in which we will have no part.
Bars Covenants Which Ignoye
Cur Associations ia the War
In 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
I shall invite in the most practical