Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-20

power; this was what the nations Of
Europe were doing. lie rejected this
idea utterly. The only alternative
was some form Of international CO.
operation; in which America could
lead. She should therefore join with
the other nations of the world "to
see that right prevails as against
any sort Of selfish aggression and
thus preserve peace In the world. In
short. there should be an association
Of nations. This logic seemed TO him
unacceptable. But at that time we
were neu.rals: the present war must
be settled as the beIligerents may
agree" We could have nothing 10
do, of course. with the terms o. tho
peace. We might come into the
association Of nations afterwards.
Our interest Is only in peace and
"a future guarantees
In other words, the belligerents
were TO settle the terms Of the peace
by negotiation with Germany. Of
course, Mt the peace table,. and we
were to come in afterwards az Il
member Of the association Of nations
10 hold the world steady.
Beliefs That the War Brought.
But. the fiercer grew the war. and
the nearer America came 20 being
swept into II, the more earnestly tho
President began to ask himself con
corning the relationship OF this assoc
citation OF nations with me terms Of
. tho peace He still enVisagcd a
peace by negotiation. y peace with
out victory" as he told the Senate
on Jan. p, 1917; and he stiH bel!cYed
tha- the future peace Of the world
could not be guaranteed without the
participation ~ the United states.
But he had seen the passions ~
Europe rising 10 greater and greater
heights; he had begun 10 perceive
how difficult IL would be. in such an
atmosphere Of hatred and fear and
greed. 10 get a Just peace" he
therefore began TO he concerned
about the terms Of peace. lie 4eUq
the Senate that before we guaranteed
the peace il must be worth guaran.
teeing" in itself. We are 10 con.
dillon our entrance 10 the futllrr
association upon the justice Of tn,
terms.
But when We took the grea-
plunge into the war itself, in April
everything was changed. We wer,
no longer neutral: we were fghtini
side by side with the Allies: W
would have to sit in at tho peac
table. II would be n peace with vic
tory. imposed. not negotiated
America would be in it: German
out Of il. We now became deepl
involved in responsibility for n
terms; We could no longer stan
aside negatively and say. II is u
to you to make just settlement, Z
we will not guarantee it"
Consequently. he President d.
voted great deal OF hard though
and effort 10 tho formulation
terms such as the United stat.
could undertake % support DOS
lively and guarantees. The associ.
ton of nations always appear.
along with these terms. II was II
last Of the Fourteen Points in Jam
ary. 1913.
But T. was not Until Septernbr
''i' '+"Nti VDoiiidn opera EOu
speech). that he comes finally IN II
decision that the constitution Of II
League Of Nations is % be the mo
essential part Of the peace -ettl
ment Itself because without sle
an fundamentally. by which Il
peace OF the world can be guara
-eed, peace will rest in part I'D,
the word OF outlaws" But mn,
emphasis is still laid upon the terri
of peace. The price all must nav
impartial justice in every item
the settlement, no mater who
interest is crossed"
Again in his "Arrnistice speech"
Congress. Nov. II. he reinforces f
same idea.