Imperial Valley press., 1923-01-12

WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass, Jan.
12.--Newton ID. Baker, who was sec
retary of war during the great
world conflict, has today issued a
statement through the Babson In
stitute. Next to Woodrow Wilson,
Mr.. Baker is said to have the most
intimate personal knowledge of the
European 'war situation Of any liv
ing man. This is his first public
utteranee on the subject since he
retired March 4, 1921.
"War, as now carried on, cannot
be much further collinued,' - says
Mr.. Baker, in answer to a question
on the possibility of permanent
peace. "The machinery of destruc
tion has become so efficient and the
economic consequences so terrible,
that war can no longer be consider
cd. OF course, | do not mean small
wars, riots, petty squabbles between
ksmall states. When l say war, i
mean that there are five nations
capable Of making war. These are
Great Britain, France, Germany,
Japan, and the United States. These
five nations alone can make war,
and the rest of the world can make
war only as these five nations lend
the others the support of their in
dustrial and financial machinery.
War today is an industrial PROPOSE
tion.
"For these five nations, the
choice is between peace and suicide.
Their affairs are so interrelated
that any disturbance in one has its
effect on the others. The prosperity
of all Of them depends upon undi-
turbed commercial relations. All
the arguments Of safety, profit and
self-interest drive these five nations
toward peace. Economic as well as
humanitarian forces are daily at
work to prevent another great war.
Guarantee Boundaries
Now, why do great nations go
to war? For just one thing: the
safety and extension of their from
tiers. With IA few exceptions, that
has been the cause of every great
war in history. The way to get
peace, then, is to guarantee the from
tiers. There ia no other practical
way. /, therefore, believe that some
day, when we have forgotten some
of the partisan fury generated over
the Versa lilies Treaty, we will under
take to guarantee national boundar-
les by a League of Nations-either
this league or some other-but along
the lines Of Article X.
''But is not this open to the OBJ.
lection of certain Republican sen
-ators who honestly believe that
boundary lines must of necessity
change as nations grow or deelinee
These senators said Article X is like
guaranteeing that "a rich family will
always be rich. Nations when they
are inefficient must take the same
chance and suffer the same fate.
Why should we guarantee them the
permancnce of their present frontiera
I This is a fair question and | will try
TO answer il frankly.
II do not propose to guarantee
them 'pcrmancncc. / am not sold
on tho present map of Europe. Per-
haps too much emphasis was laid on
the principle of nationality aud too
little on economic solidarity in its
making. 1t is bound to change.
But we do not want another war to
change it. My proposal is that,
when it is changed, it snail be
changed as result of negotiation
and award, and not by robbery or
pillagc.
"For that matter, we are guaran-
teeing' wealth to the rich now. We
are spending untold sums to prevent
violence upon property rights. A
peaceful changing Of frontiers hurts
nobody. 1t is the violent method
that costs and goes to extremes"
Mr. Baker was then asked his
opinion regarding Russia and whcth-