The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-23
IF Nicaragua Were in Europe

Supporting Secretary of State Kellogg'S invita-
ton to France, England, Italy, Germany and Japan
to Join us in pact to outlaw war Professor oe
Madariaga. formerly director of the Disarmament
Section Of the League of Nations, suggests that the
Secretarys plan be used basis for an interna-
tional parley.
Proof, de Madariaga-now of oxford University
docs not see the Kellogg plan as completed prof.
ect but rather as the first important stsp toward
something of vast consequence to the world
Secretary Kellogg obviously can not mean what his
words seem to mean the professor points out so the
thing to do is for the nations to get together at
conference and investigate the implications and
possibilities of his scheme.
"First Of ALL" says de Madariaga, in the London
Times, what Goes state actually renounce when IL
renounces war as an instrument Of national policy?
Merely aggressive war; Whether Washington likes II
or not aggressive war and war as an instrument of
national policy mean very much the same thing
for practical purposes The two terms differ only IN
that war as an instrument of national policy is the
wagner of the two, and therefore the more danger
Gus E"
1T is evident" he continues that state which
offers to renounce all but defensive wars (and that Is
what the American proposal means, despite It's IN
appearance, unqualified condemnation OF war; re-
nounces nothing at all long as it retains the right
to define when it is fighting defensive war
1.-THE fact is that in most perfect good faith states
are wont to consider that any and every war they
feel inclined to fight is defensive war.
cat the very moment when it offers Europe and all
the nations of the world pact renouncing war as
an instrument of national policy, the American GOV
eminent is engaged in operations in Nicaragua which
many people, both in the United States and abroad
Tar
This fact eoquently shows that mere pact
renouncing war (whatever that may mcan) as an
instrument of national policy (whateyer that may
mean is not going to prevent nation from under
taking operations which considerable proportion of
the world may be unable to discriminate from war.
Something more is wanted.
1.-THE Nicaraguan case has not led up to Ameri-
can war because there is American nation strong
enough to stand up to the United States. An
identical situation in Europe would have led to
European war and almost certainly to a world war.
Europe, therefore, not accept practical
politics pact which events show her to be COM
patibe with armed intervention in foreign country
The League of Nations covenant, the writer points
out, specifically bars all of aggression and stipu
1ates that every pacific means must be employed to
settle disputes of every description which may arise
between states" Thus the Kellogg plan represents
two steps in advance
First, the Kellogg pact calls for specific ratifca-
ton by governments and parliaments and second at
would add to the declaration of the members of the
League the plighed word of the United States"
Neither Europe nor Japan will for moment under
estimate the Importance of this step, the professor
warns. But he adds the United States should not
overestimate it, because their move is in the nature
of a beginning"
The first step is hardest professor. After that
they come easy.