The Mena weekly star., 1921-04-14
HARDING REJECTS
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS

AA n heDA4tNa AsA$N AIOA
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS
 (Continued from Page One) in lifting the tax burdens if we strike resolutely at expenditure.
 Administration.
 Enactment of a national budget system and general reductions by ef- ficient management of the cost of gov ernment.
 Business.
 "Less of government in business as well as more business in government. There is no challenge to honest and lawful business success. But govern ment approval of fortunate, untram- meled business does not mean tolera- tion of restraint trade or of main- tained prices by unnatural methods. Anxious as we are to restore the on- ward flow of business it is fair to com bine assurance and warning in one utterance,"
 Agriculture.
 "The maintained retail costs in per- ishable foods cannot be justified. Re duced costs of basic production has been recorded but high cost of living has not yielded in like proportion. Without the spirit of hostility or haste in accusation of profteering some suitable inquiry by Congress might speed the price readjustment to normal relationship, with helpful ness to both producer and consumer. A measuring rod of fair prices will satisfy the country and give us busi- ness revival to end all depression and unemployment"
 These were the principal subjects touched on in the address which was about 7,500 words in length and a . large portion of which was devoted to the related subjects of peace, the league of nations and the country's foreign policy. The presidents discussion of the peace question opened with definite declaration against the existing league of nations.
 Tn the existing league of nations, world government with it's super pow ers,' said the president, "this repub- lie will have no part.
 NO League Of Nations.
 "'There can be no misinterpreta- tion and there will be no betrayal of the deliberate expression of the Amer ican people in the recent election; and, settled in our decision for our selves, it is only fair to say to the world in general and to our assist ants in war in particular 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 particular treaty, or committed to the attainment of the special aims of any nation to group of nations.
 New Association.
 Tn rejecting the league covenant and uttering the rejections to our own people, and to the world. we make no surrender of our hope and aim for an association to promote peace in which we would most heartily join. Tn the national reference (the last cleo tion) we pledged our efforts toward such association and the pledge will be faithfully kept. In the plight of policy and performances we told the Ameri- can people we meant to seek an early establishment of peace. The United States alone among the allies and as- soclated powers of Europe"
 The anomalous condition ought not to be permitted to continue. To es- tablish the state of technical peace without delay, should approve dec laratory resolution by Congress to that effect with the qualifications es- sential 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 desertion of those with whom we shared our sacrifices in war, for these powers are already at peace.
 Can't Misunderstood.
 Such a resolution should under take to do no more than thus to de- clare the state of peace which all America craves. It must add no diff. hculty in effecting, with just repara- tons, the restoration for which all Europe yearns and upon which the worlds economy. 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 separations already has had formal and very earnest expression. Safeguard All Interests.
 Tt would be idle to declare for sep arate treaties of peace with the cen trai 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 settle ments already effected nor is it de- sirable to do so in preserving our own rights and contracting our future re- lationships.
 The wiser course would seem to be the acceptance of the condemnation of our rights and interests ais already provided and to engage under the ex- isting treaty, assuming, of course. that this can be satisfactorily ae-