, 1922-03-11

money 10 the nations who had en-
gagged In the Wild race OF building bat
ueships-
The terms Of NE treaty ese.rfy
can for n conference to consider diff
fculties that may arise just as the
conferences on h Limitation Of arma-
ments was called in Washington some
months ago. 1t is a conference IN
which al tho hour powers must agree
and none OF the powers WIN DO bound
IN advance In any why. In other
words the agreements that arc reach
ed must be by the unanimous con
sent o. an
The opponents of the ratification
Of this treaty in the main appear to
base their objections on two grounds.
expressing positions that ar opposed
ono to h other. II Is asserted that
the treaty in effect Is an alliance be-
tween the four great powers for Of
fensfvo md defensive purposes, or at
least, II Is contended we VIII be
Drawn into that position in n end
and that we may be forced into war
without our ccnsent- 1 maintain that
there is nothing in the treaty itself
that t~ustines such an Interpretation
being placed upon It; that an agree
mcnt by n man " by a nation to re
spect the rights of his neighbors is
an obligation that relates to his own
conduct and does not bid him to ag-
gressive action because the other
party TO tho contract. whose rights
he has agreed to respect. becomes in
zotved IN difficulties
but tho question Is not left hero.
Tho foreign relations committee ave
moved a reservation TO tho treaty.
which beyond a doubt WIN be accept
ed by tho senate Ehich reads rs fol-
lows
the Omitted States understands
Nat under the statement in h pre-
amble, or under tho terms of this
treaty. there is no commitment to
armed force. no alliance. no obfiga-
ton TO Join in any defense
when the treaty Is ratined with
this understanding on tho part of our
government. what ground is left to
those who contend the treaty IS an
Offensive and defensive alliance to
stand uponr None that I can sce
-On tho other hand. it Is asserted
Chat, ms tho treaty docs not bind the
high contracting parties to use force
IA carrying out its terms, nj because
they cannot IN tho future be bound
to amy action until tho free consent
Is obtained. that It means nothing.
chzf n Is worse Ina useless to sign
Il. ard therefore &c should DO defeat
ed. To my mind. this argument is
me last stand of the men OF the old
school. the school Of thought that has
been dominant in the government of
this world for the last Tour thousand
years: the philosophy that believes
that the world can and must be gov
erned only by forcc. and thai agree-
nents. to be binding. must have the
power of force behind them.
III this Vet true, n would de-
struy all the faith of tho Christian
nations OF the world IN their efforts
10 obtain peace by mutual under
standing
-You may en- sbe Versailles treaty
an alliance I voted for It because
j bpifeved n WA a sincere effort to
0ecure the peace Of the world by mr-
enai understanding. The present
treaty b not an alliance, but II II
"SG 1Ax 1AAA6lACo lultI1Qeu co keEp INC
peace through arbitration rather than
through force I should suppor. it.
Tho dangers of past alliances have
not been due to tho fact that they
were binding agreements between the
powers that signed them, but because
they contemplated the use of force
fer The benefit of The signatory pow
erz An alliance based on right and
>usfice between nations, intended to
add IN securing the peace of the world.
would not be offensive TO me. The
5rst step IN my effort to keep the
peace among nations must be based
upon q mutual agreement TO respect
h rights Of others. Tho fpurpov+r
pact does that.
IT In senate Of me Omitted States
radSes this pending treaty, I am
fully satisfied that there win disap-
Pear not only any real cause for war.
but there VIII no longer exist the CD.
poTtunity for war that has threat.
ened US In the past two decades; and
peace VIII be established between the
four great sea powers that now con.
troll h destinies of the Pacific ocean.
A long as conditions were allow.
Sd TO emai in the Far East as they
have existed for the past two decades,
danger furked behind every dispute
n he war clouds gathered when
every national issue was raised. These
conditions threatened our national Sc
curity. for as long as our flag floats
over h distant islands of the Pa.
cihc, national honor requires that we
snail defend h peoples Of these
Islands from attacks by other ma
TONS.
This y the real issue fnvufved In
the Horsepower treaty. the issue OF
peace IN h Orient. the issue OF
safety to our country, the issue of thu
lives of our young men, who should
0-L-7 Auto