Evening star., 1923-04-03

Rome, he said. adding that the three
craft, submarines and land forces
had not at all been affected by the
Wa ashlngton treaties.
1t was true, he conceded. that the
Washington conference had laid
use, but there was little likelihood
that these would be respected. he
declared, II nations ever again found
themselves fighting for their lives.
Experience I'm Last War.
Certainly the experience of the
last war Is against any such hope
he said. Scarcely one rule for the
humanizine of warfare was observed
and. though we may think that our
enemies were the worst. yet In all
there is any single nation which has
clean sheet in the matter
When you let loose upon the
earth a great orgy of blood and
slaughter 1t is not reasonable to eX-
rect that by any rules and regula-
ttons you Will be able to limit these
atrocities.
he continued. "of unhappy individu-
ais. victims of mania for drugs
They take to some OF these terrible
Inventions and the more they take
the more they want. until they be-
come drug manlacS. ruined in body
and soul
There may be such maniacs among
the nations today. They are arma-
ment maniacs and humanity will not
has caused this horrible state OF
things? Fortunately, the diagnosis
is simple: 1t ali comes down to one
single eSil-international fear and
suspicion"
But if nations are to be asked TO
dtsarln. he continued. they must be
guaranteed against aggression from
without. and this could be done only
by some form Of an association of
nations.
Lord Robert declared he believed
the covenant Of the league now OPP
Grating was adequate to the purpose,
hut that If America would devise
better plan. or suggest alterations
in the organization of the present
league. he would favor them.
Citing the achievements of the
lea que of nations, he concluded:
Il do not come as suppliant for
American help. I come to tell YOU
what. as il seems to me. the league
really Is. and what it has done, and
to hear from you any criticisms or
advice as to its action. In the mean
time, I will venture. if I may, to put
TO you one or two questions
IL do not doubt or underva!ue for
q moment the immense services
America has rendered in recent years
to Europe. but has America done
enough for herself?
L. 6. Cannot Keep AIoOf.
She desires. and rightly desires.
to be free from the entanglements of
Europe and its concerns. But can
she be free from them? What is her
own experience quite recently?
In 1912 America felt compelled 70
enter the world war. 1t was not that
she desired war-far from it. VIII
any one say that if another great
European war took place, involving.
&C a llyk-1 n
of right and wrong, that it would be
possible in the future any more than
in the past for America to stand out
side and take TO part? Any such an
ticipation would surely be gambling
with the future of your country.
And If that be so, If il be really
true that even on this side OF the At
lantic there IS no certainty that TINS
nation can avoid the worst OF all en-
nglements-participa in war
is Il really so unreasonable 10 suS-
gest that II is an American interest
to erect safeguards against the OUT
breaks of war in any part OF the
world. for when war breaks out no
one can tell how far it will spread.
That is all l have to ask. 1t is for
you here to say what answer should
be given to this question. In any case
we in Europe must go on. We can
not draw back from this great expert
ment We are bound by every obli-
cation Of prudence and honor TO pur-
sue it to the end. Prudence, because
1t seems to US that there is no other
practical proposal by which we can
avert the threatened destruction of
our civilization. and honor. because
we who remain solemnIy pledged our
selves to those who died for US that
If victory should be ours we should
use IL before all other objects to pre-
vent a repetition of the catastrophe
that overwhelmed them
should Get Ruhr Question.
After his address Lord Robert in
vited questions from the audience
and several dealing with the Ruhr,
Irish and Near East situations were
asked him.
II believe now that the Euhr ques-
tion should be presented to the
league of nations at the earliest mo-
ment," he replied to d question as
to why he had voted against such q
proposal in the British parliament.
THAT proposal was of a political
nature, and political controversies
between nations must be kept out
Of the league"
Asked whether the league OF ma
tions could stop the war in Ireland,
he replied:
The war in Ireland is a civil war.
The league of nations does not deal
with internal affairs however deplor-
able. If there could be any assur-
ance, however, that its decision
would be acceptable to all parties, I
am sure the league would take such
steps at once"
reservations to the Versailles treaty
would have been acceptable, Lord
Robert said: II am satisfied the
nations of the world would not en-
ploy a pettifogging or huck stering
spirit in dealing with an offer of CO.
operation with the United States"
Hindu then asked Lord Robert
whether the league attitude of moral
disarmament would discontinue the
British imperialistic policy in Egypt.
India, Mesopotamia and the Near
East"
ping of any policy of Imperialism,
whether Of my own country or any
other country, but ] would not advo-
cate any policy leading to the aban-
donment of any trust of the weak
unable TO take care of themselves"
he replied.
Lord Robert then explained that no
great difficulty would be encountered
if changes were found necessary in
the league covenant. He considered
the covenant needed no changes, but
advocated the adoption of two extra
articles, one with a definite and ex-
presive provision for the abolition of
war. and the second. provision for
expanding the league to include all
nations not row included
The league attitude on disarma-
ment. he said, would extend to all
nations not attending the Washing
ton conference the principles adopted
there, but with a further provision
for perpetual disarmament. A spe-
cial committee appointed by the
league to examine the disarmament
question, he said, had completed a
draft of It's recommendations which
would be submitted to the next meet
Ing Of the council June f.
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife Of the
former PreSIdanf WAS nraaanf