Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1923-01-13
BAKER HAS PLAN
TO STOP THE WAR
Former Secretary Suggests
That the Boundaries Of Coun-
tries be Guaranteed.
Copyrighted. 1879. All rights reserved
ny Roger W. Babson.

Wellesley Hills. Mass. Jan. IA
Hon. Newton ID. Baker who was Sec
rotary % War during the great World
Confiic'. has today issued state
ment through the Babson Institute
Next 10 Woodrow Wilson. Mr.. Baker
IL said TO have the most intimate per-
sonal knowledge 81 the European war
situation OF any living man. This IL
his first public uttersnce on the sub
ject since ne retired March {. 1921.
War. as now carried on. cannot be
much further continued" says Mr. /
Baker. IN answer TO a question on the /
possibility ~ permanent peace. The /
machinery of destruction has become /
80 efficient and the economic conse-
quencss so terrible. that war can no I
longer be considered. OF course, /
do not mean small wars. riots, petty I
sauabbles between small states. When /
say. War. I mean that there are
five nations capable % making war /
These are Great Britain. France. Ger |
many. Japan and The United States. 1
These i've nations alone ran make ,
war and the rest % the world can
make war only as these FIVE nations |
Industrial and financial machinery.
War today is an Industrial PROPOSE
ton.
For these FIVE nations. me choice
- between peace and suicide Their
affairs arc ~ lnter-related that any
disturbance IN one has its effect or
the other. The prosperity OF all Of
them depend upon undlsturbed COM
merciai relations All the arguments
% safety. prof, and seif-interest drive
these FIVE nations toward peace.
Economic az we'll a humanitarian
forces are daily az work 20 present
another great war.
Now. why do great nations 20 20
war? For just one thing; the safety
and extension % their frontiers With
a few exceptions. that has been the
cause % every great war In history
There are always outsiders. nibbling
at The edges: and % secure peace AZ
home. the great power - always seek
ing % push its frontier back Just q
little farther. n seems % put "A little
greater distance between itself a nd he
cOvetOus unsuccessful beyond the
boundary. The way 20 get peace
then. a % guarantees the frontiers
There ia no other practical way.
therefore. believe that some day
when we have forgotten some % the
partisan fury generated over the
Versailles Treaty. We VIII undertake
70 guarantees National Boundaries by
, a League OF Nat.ons-ei,her this
League or soma other-buc along the
. lines OF Article X.
But is not this open 20 the OBJ
lection OF certain Republican Sena-
) tors who honestly believe that
: boundary lines must OF necessity
o change as nations grow or decline
. These Senators said Article Y Is Ike
= guaranteeing that rich family vii
} always be rich. Now. We know tha
: rich families do not remain rich. Theii
property is dissipated and the grand
children OF the rich family OF today
will De working FOR somebody fol
wages. OF course. me Nations wheI
they are inefficient must take the sam
chance and suffer the same fate. VIII,
should We guarantee them the per
manence OF their present frontier
This IS a fair question and I viii IT,
TO answer II frankly.
Il do not propose 20 guarantee then
'permanence. am not sold on th'
present map OF Europe. Perhaps to-
much emphasis was laid on the prin
clple OF nationality and too little Of
economic solidarity IN its making
II is bound 20 change. But we do no
want another war 20 change IL. NJ.
proposal is that. when IL - changed
IL shall be changed rs a result Of ne
ISOLATION and award. and not by rob
berry or pillage.
For that matter. we are guarantee
ing wealth 20 the rich. now. We ar
spending untold sums TO prevent VIC
lence upon property rights. A peace
full changing OF frontiers hurts no
body. II Is the violent method tina
costs and that goes 20 extremes. B
negotiation We exchange with eac
other what true interest justifies. b
violence men take all they can get"
Mr.. Baker was then asked hi
opinion regarding Russia an
whether he felt Russia should
recognized. said he.
so far as the recognition OF Rus
STA concerns only their form OF SOY
eminent. l would recognize Russ
in two seconds. II they want 70 pic
out perfect fool and make him Kin.
that is no concern OF mine. My onl
hesitation about Russian recognitio
concerns Russia's attitude towsr
foreign agreements. Whenever Rus
STA will agree that any foreign under
taking that they enter upon will I
honored and observed. then I am e
recognizing Russia"
Would you insist on their pawn
the old Cars debts 10 France" NJ
Baker was asked.
NO" he replied. mo more than
would have insisted on the Unite
states paying the bills OF the Souther
Confederacy. That is matter z
Russia 70 decide for Itself. The on
point that concerns me is that whs
Russia makes a bargain with n
United States or with any oth'
foreign nation. they shall be prepare
10 stand by e. In other words. q
internal organization and political n
situations OF a country are its ow
business. True self-interest will lea
any government 10 honor its interns
tional obligations. But recognitio
should not depend upon a mere dislilS
OF the form OF government which
people prefer for themselves"
In connection with this statemen
by Mr.. Baker. the following hgure
show the increase in the debt O