Milford chronicle., 1923-04-06
UNCLE TEDTS
BEDTIME STORIES
ANOTHER STEP TOWARD PEACE


"That will mean another long steI
toward the settlement of disputes
without resort to force" said Uncle
Ted. "It really is not so very impor-
tant so far as we are concerned as a
nation, for we have long been in IA
Vor of settling disputes that way, and
have settled a number in accordance
with some such plan. But it will en-
courage all nations to adopt the meth
ods we have favored so long. Next to
the treaties made at the Washington
conference, this is the most practical
thing that has been done in a long
time to minimize the danger of wal"
"Just what was it al labout, Uncle
Ted" asked Jack. don't really know
what you are talking about"
"Just this, Jack" replied Uncle Ted.
"YOu know of all the things l have
told you and Ruth about how neces-
sary it is for this country to keep
free from entanglements with Europe
and in what a fine way our European
relations have been handled by Pres
ident Harding. 1 have told you of the
Washington arms conference and its
result which brought peace and un-
are adjusting the money owed this
government, how we refuse to become
a party to the European reparatlons
scrap and how our troops have all
been brought home. On top of all this
l have shown you how much better
our home problems have been handled
through the wisdom of President Har-
ding. In other words, in spite OF the
enemies of those who are working
hard to make this country go in the
right direction and in spite of the
many troubles and obstacles that have
blocked the path, the country has been
run well and successfully. We HAVE
kept out of trouble with Europe. We
HAVE helped in a sensible and prac-
tical way toward world peace and we
HAVE attended to our own home trOu-
bles without bothering the neighbOrs
and without making anybody angry.
ut seems to me that is about as
fine a record as anyone could want.
President Harding has worked hard
since the arms conference to find
some way to help world peace without
bein CITED to Europe. Without va
cation for months and months and
with Mrs. Harding recovering from
very severe illness he is now trying
to rest in the South so that he may re-
turn to Washington and be of more
service to his country. Before he left
Washington he sent a message on
this world peace question to the Sen
ate. 1t was a message containing mat
ter upon which, with the assistance
of Secretary of State Hughes, he had
Fr,
Harding does not say that it is the
best plan in the world. He does feel
that it is safe and that it is another
step in the slow process of bringing
peace to the world, to which he con-
tributed so much through the Wash
ingtOn conference.
president Harding wants the Unit
ed States to join the Permanent Court
of International Justice and he points
out that this can be done without hav-
ing any relation to the world club.
Now to me it doesn't concern us right
now what the Senate has or will do
about the matter. The thing that con-
Germs me is that President Harding
and Secretary Hughes are trying with
all their power to make another prac-
tical step toward helping the world
to get away from war. They know that
such plans as were put forth for the
world club are impractical.
But, kiddies, that does not stop us
from trying to make gradual steps to-
ward peace in the world and that is
what President Harding meant by his
message. Don't let anyone try to tell
you that President Harding has chang
ed his mind and is getting us into the
world club. He hasn't changed his
mind one bit. During the campaign for
the Presidency in the summer and fall
of 1920 he said hundreds of times that
his foreign policy favored an "asso-
citation of nations He was and is
against going into the world club be-
cause he knows it is political club
but he does believe that membership
by the United States in the world
court would be good thing. AS Pres
ident Harding said:
Such action would add to our
own consciousness of participation
in the fortunate advancement of in
ternational relationship, and remind
the world anew that we are ready
for our proper part in furthering
peace and adding to stability in
WOrlu aHalrS.
While studying this question Sec
retary Hughes went into every phase
of the matter. He looked ahead and |
saw that if this plan or similar one
should be adopted certain reservations
would be necessary. The first reserva-
ton ne suggests reads like this:
1. That such adhesion shall not
be taken to involve any legal reIa-
tion on the part of the United States
to the league of nations or the as,
sumption of any obligations by the
United States under the covenant of
the league Of nations constituting
part of the Treaty of Versailles
That is the only one I am going to
read because it tells the story. That
reservation will answer any
one who says we are joining the world
club. We are not. We have simply been
ofered the suggestion brought about
through the deep study of these men
mat we become member of a World
court of justice to look forward with
the hope that some day troubles will
be settled by arbitrating them and war J.
will end"
SUGAR COATED PILLS OF WISDOM