Evening star., 1928-11-11
TRIUMPH Of PEACE
HAILED AS REALITY
Writer Sees U. S. Leading
Way Despite Absence From
League Councils.
BY KIRKE L. SIMPSON.

A decade of peace for the great ma
tions of the earth has passed since the
World War ended November II, 1918.
Small wars have famed sporadically in
those 10 years, but, despite the bitter
hatreds between peoples left in the
wake of war, despite conflicting ma
tional aspirations that have repeatedly
disclosed frictions that might we'll have
again walked the guns that have no
doubts" diplomacy and craftsmanship
have triumphed and preserved peace.
Through all the jarring conflicts of
opinion and interest the United States
has led the way always toward peaceful
settlement CT international disputes.
Despite her absence from the member
ship of the League Of Nations, she has
steadily lent her aid to every League
activity for peace not directly involving
her in the politics of Europe.
Feature Of Armistice Day.
On this tenth anniversary of Ar
mistice day the United States stands
before the world more completely COM
pcace than any other nation. New,
more binding treaties of arbitration with
virtually every power with which con-
f1icting economic interests might lead
to war hedge about her future with this
safeguard against war. These solemn
pledges to submit disputes of 1urld-
ical nature to binding Verdlct
framed By disinterested jurists are
backed by even more drastic concili3-.
ton treaties requiring delay and cool
thought in an international emergency
of any character before warllke moves
shall be made.
Bv American initiative within the
decade definite limits have been SET 10
competitive building among the major
naval powers in the heaviest ana most
powerful units Of sea warfare; the sore
spots in the Pacific have been examined
and aggressive designs have been re-
nounced by those nations chiefly inter-
ested in order that these matters may
not lead to war. In both cases. wash
ington has willingly sacrificed a degree
of both freedom of action and the nat
,lral advantages of American wealth.
and economic power to gain the sought
for end Of assured peace.
U. S. Sponsor of Universal Pledge.
On top of this deep-reaching struc-
ture to keep America out OF war, there
has now been erected by Amerlcan'pro-
posal and pressure lofty treaty trame-
work designed and e'ready well ad-
Vanced toward realization as unlver-
sal pledge between all governments and
peoples renouncing war as an agency
OF national policy.
Over in Arlington National Cemetery,
where the Memorial Amphitheater
erected to all American war dead stands,
the words Lincoln used at Gettysburg
long ago are carved to pledge the spirit
Of the Nation against aggressive war:
I'VE are highly resolved that these
dead shall not have died in vain"
It was the rebirth of the Nation, the
coming of new day when America
should again stand forth In the world
as one people under one flag with ma
tional aspirations of peace and happi-
ness rewelded in the fiery ordeal OF
civil war, that Lincoln saw as he spoke
Another Step Toward Peace.
Decades later, in 1921, when the
! great. open, airy temple of patriotism
at Arlington was rededicated at the
burial within its sanctuary OF Americas S
Unknown from France. another Presi-
dent was to call similarly upon the
gathered great men OF many nations,
come to frame the naval limitatlons
pact.
There must be, there shall be, the
commanding voice of conscious civil
ization against armed warfare" Presl-
dent Harding said.
And 10 years after the World War
ended. years filled with clashes of con-
fiicting opinion at home and abroad.
years when the nerves of governments
and peoples have been tried sorely in
the bitter aftermath of war, who shall
say America has failed to keep her
Pledge to her dead?