The St. Joseph observer., 1921-12-10
THE uREsIDENrs SONG IN TUNE

The Associated Press which seldom
gets anything wrong assured us Sat
urday that President Harding has
formulated that plan for the "associa-
tion OF nations that he proposed,
during the campaign, as somethlng
better than the league OF nations.
He would have this association ex-
tended In its membership to take IN
other countries. including Germany. 50
as TO make it. eventually world con-
cert. This is likewise the league plan.
He would have for it's chief purposs
the wiping out of international diff
ferences and understandings. and so
the averting Of war. by meeting of
nations about the council table" This
is likewise the league pain.
HI would have that meeting AT reg
ular intervals. With authority and
means provided for calling special
meetings In time of emergency. This
Is likewise the league plan.
He regards an International court
OF justice as a logical part" OF such
a movement to settle international
quarrels by peaceful means This is
likewise the league plan. And the
league. with the able assistance Of
Elihu Root one Of Mr. Hardmg's
Representatives in the present confer
ence. has created such a court.
The radical departure Of President
Harding from Mr.. Wilson's league
plan--and the Only one 80 far reveal
ed. is that he wants no formal cove
nants, no written treaties to be sub
mitted to and ratified by the peoples
elected representatives. He prefers
"Geutlcmen's agreement" entered into.
initially by the gentlcmen who have
been appointed to represent their gov
ernments I'm tho Washington confer
ence. lie would as soon have a ma
tion's word as Its bond" believing that
agreements that are not treaties will
rest upon national uprightuess and
good will and good faith. and thus be
equally effective.
This brings us close to the portals
II not actually within the confines. OF
the realm of speculative philosophy
vulgarly known BY the commonalIy as
hair-splittlug.
When Is a treaty not a treaty?
When il IL rentlemcn's agreement.
Informal, beyond and above and out
side the limits OF constitutional and
legal coustraiut, therefore not legally
binding, but morally binding and
therefore equally binding
what IS the advantage Of tho one
over the other?
First, that it need not be submitted
TO cantankerous senate for approval.
Second, that it will bear the label
of a republican rather than demo-
cratic president.
What on the other hand are the
disadvantages?
First obviously, the invaluable time
that has been and will still be lost,
Prompt entry OF the Unitcd States In
TO the league already In existence
would have meant imperative tasks
already performed instead Of their
still waiting to be performed while
commerce and industry and agricul-
ture sizzlc and burn.
In the second place to the minds Of
the best thinkers Of the age that the
Wilson league plan includes specific
methods FOR av"rting war when a crisis
arises. This by means Of the written
covenants in wi ich the nations agree
that they will not go to war without
first submitting their quarrel to arbi-
tration O" inquiry, and then not until
within three months after the award
or report. Also by the written agree
ment to bring financial ana economic
pressure TO bear on the covenant
breaking power that launches lawless
and aggressive war. and. II these fail.
10 advise as TO what other method
should be adopted 10 support the rule
Of Justice and honor IN the world.
But all OF these suggestions and
ideas are subjects Of controversy, and
Mr.. Harding will have none OF them
for he has been amply commissioned
TO speak and act for the American
people. However nebulous his plans
however informal his methods, he is
moving at least In the right direction
His field OF vision Is broadening. Sc
Is that Of all Americans. even those
who. a year ago were most tragically
myopic. They have como to see that
beyond the Alps there are yet people
and that our American fortunes are
indissolubly linked with the fortunes
Of the rest OF the world. We must
play worthily our part TO keep II
straight II we would ourselves be safe
s-,' "rosnerous and happy.