The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-11

threatened by an outside power, then all concerted efforts to tranquillize the world and stabilize peace must be flung to the winds. Either these treaties must have your cordial sane ton, or every proclaimed desire to promote peace and prevent war be- comes hollow mockery.
 We have seen the eyes of the world turned to the Pacific. With Europe prostrate and penitent, none feared the likelihood of early conflict there. But the Pacific had it's mem aces, and they deeply concerned us. Our territorial interests are larger there. Its waters are not strange seas to us, its farther shores not unknown to our citizens. Our earlier triumps of commerce were there. We began treaty relationships with China full so years ago, in the youthful vigor of our republic. and the sailings of our clipper ships were the romance of our merchant marine when it successfully challenged the competition of the world Seventy years ago Commodore Perry revealed Japan to commerce, and there followed that surpassing development of the Island Empire, with whom our unbroken peace found a, most gratifying reflex in the con ference just closed.
 "A century ago we began planting the seeds of American friendship in Hawaii and 70 years ago Webster told the Senate the United States could never consent to see these islands taken possession of by either of the great commercial powers of Europe. whether it was destiny or the de- velopment of propinquity, or the in- fluence of our colonists, or faith in our institutions, Hawaii came under the flag in 1898, and rejoices today as g part of our republic.
 How Possessions Grew
 "The lure of the waters, or the march of empire, or the call of com merce or inscrutible destiny led us on and we went to the South seas and planted the flag in Samoa Out of the war with Spain came our spon- sorship in the Philippines and the possession of Guam. and so we are deeply concerned in the mid-Pacific the South seas, and the very center of the far east. We crave peace there as we do on the continent, and we should be renhss in permorming na- tional duty if we did not covenant the relations which tend to guarantee if. For more than a half century we have had a part in influencing the affairs of the Pacific, and our present proposed commitments are not mate riaHy different In character, nor materially greater in extent, though fraught with vastly less danger, than our undertakings in the past.
 We have convinced the on-iooking and interested powers that we covet the possessions of no other power in the far east and we know for our selves that we crave no further or greater governmental or territorial responsibilities there. Contemplat- ing what s admittedly ours and mind ful of a long time and reciprocal friendship with China, who do wish the opportunity to continue the de- velopment of our trade peacefully, and on equality with other nations, to strengthen our ties of friendship, and to make sure the righteous and just relationships of peace.
 Holding the possessions we do; entertaining these views, and con- fessing these ambitions, why should we. not make reciprocal engagements to respect the territory of others and contract their respect of ours, and thus quiet apprehension and put an end to suspicion?
 Apprehension Dissipated
 There has been concern. There has been apprehension of territorial greed, most fruitful cause of war The conference has dissipated both and your ratification of the cove nants made will stabilize peace for the breaking of which there is not a shadow of reason or req excuse. We shall not have less than before. No one of us shall have less than before. There is no narrowed liberty, no hampered Independence, no shat tered sovereignty. no added obliga- tion, We will have new assurances, new freedom from anxiety and new manifestations of the sincerity of our own intentionsi a new demonstra-