Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-13

and postal air services. The air mail
service is nm important step In the
direction Of commercial aviation.
1t has become pressing duty of
the Federal government to provide
Tor the regulation OF air navigation:
otherwise Independent and conflicting
legislation Will DO enacted by tho
various Statos which will hamper the
development OF aviation. Tho ma
tional advisory committee for aoro-
nautics. In a special report on this
subject, has recommended tho estab-
iishment OF n bureau OF neronautics
In the Department of Commorco for
tho Federal regulation of air nnvi-
walton. which regulation ought to
hRvo government approval.
The aim to associate nations to
prevent war, preserve peace. and
cordially npplauded. Wo ycarncd for
this new instrum, mt of Justice, but
| we can have no art in n commital to
an agency OF forco in unknown con-
tingcncies: wo can recognize no
super-authority.
Manifestly tho highest purpose OF
| the league OF nations was defeated
in linking II with the treaty OF peace
and making 1t the enforcing agency
OF tho v!ctors OF the war. Intcrna-
ttonnl association for permanent
| instrumentality of justice unasso-
ciated with the passions of yesterday,
and not so constituted as to attempt
| the dual functions OF political In
strument of the conIuerors and OF an
| agency of peace. There can DO no
prosperity for the Fundamental pur-
poses sought to be achieved by any
such association so long rs II Is an
| organ of any particular treaty, OF
committed TO the attainment of the
special aims of any nation or group
| OF nations.
| Is World Aspiration.
The American aspiration, indeed,
the world aspiration. was an asso-
citation OF nations. based upon the
application of justice nd right. bind
Tor the prevention OK war and pointing
| the way to Il higher civilization ana
| International fraternity In which all
the world might share. In rejecting
tho league covenant ana uttering
! that rejection To our own people and
to the world. we make no surrender
or our hope and aim for an associa-
would most heartily join. We wish II
| 10 be conceived in peace and dcdi-
| Gated to peace. and Will rclinquish
no effort to bring the nations of the
world into such fellowship. not in the
surrender of NATIONAL sovereignty.
but rejoicing in IA nohlcr exercise of
u N the advancement OF human &C
| tivities, amid the compensations OF
peaceful achievement.
Pledged Our Efforts.
In the national referendum to
which ! have advcrtcd. we pledged
our efforts toward such association,
and the niedgc, Will he faithfully
| performance, we told the American
people we meant To seek an early
establishment of peace The United
ISOLATED powers continued In n
technical state of war against the
central powers OF Europe. This
anomalous condition ought not be
! permitted to continue. To establish
| the state of technical peace without
| further delay, I should approve n
deciarntory resolution by Congress to
that effect. with the publication cs-
sential to protect all our rights
Such action would be the simplest
Keeping OF faith with ourselves. and
could in no sensc be construed as n
fdcseriion of those with whom we
shared our sacrifices in war for these
powers arc already at peace.
| Attitude Is i'm Earnest.
Such resolution should undertake
to do no more than thus 10 declare
.ca Graves, il must add no difficulty
| in eHcctinE, with just rcparations
the restoration for which all Europe
Ecacns. and upon which the worlds
! recovery must be founded. Neither
| former enemy nor ally can mistake.
Americas position, because our atti-'
tuhe as to responsibility for the war
and the necessity for just rcparat!ons
| already has had formal and very
| earnest expression.
1t would be unwisc to undertake
To mako n statement of future policy
| with respect to European affairs in
such Il declaration of q state of peace.
| In correcting the failure of the cx-
ecutive. in negotiating the most i'm
portant treaty in the history of the
nation. TO recognize the constitutional
powers o! tho senate we would go TO
the other extreme. equally objection
| able, II Congress or the Senate ehould
| assume the function OF the executive.
Our highest duty is the preservation
Of the constituted power OF each, and
the promotion OF the spirit Of coop
Grafton SO essential to our common
welfare.
Separate Treaties Ideal.
1t would be ideal to declare for
separate treaties of peace with the
these alone would be adequate. be-
cause the situation is so involved
that our peace engagements cannot
ignore the old world relationship and
| is 1t 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 confirmation
of our rights ana interests as already
provided and-to engage under the en-
listing treaty. assuming Of course that
this can be satisfactory accomplished
by such explicit reservations and
notifications rs will secure our alb
Solutc freedom from inadvisablc COM
mitmcnts and safeguard all our es-
sential interests.
Neither Congress nor the people
| needs my assurance that n request to
negotiate needed treaties of pcacc
would be as superfluous and unneces-
sary as ii is technically ineffective.
| and I know in my own heart there
is none who would wish to cmbar-
rass the executive in the pcrforman nee
of his duty when we are all so eager
TO turn disappointment and delay into
gratifying accomplishment.