Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-30


was to bring to an
Mr.. D.vi.. end a disastrous
war and to settle
: the many questions growing out OF It,;
! the other was to establish such a new
order in world affairs as would prevent
the recurrence of a similar calamity.
J Regrets Postwar Reaction.
These tasks. sufficiently difficult in
themselves, were further complicated
by the postwar reaction which set in
and swept over all of the victorious
countries, cryStalliZing in an intense
and selfish nationalism that caused
many to forget the lessons and aims of
the war and to oppose settlements and
measures that would give a just and
lasting peace. The concessions which
had to be made to the reactionary de-
: mandS have been gradually mintmized
by the wise provisions for self correc-
ton and improvement which were in
corporated in the treaty.
AS we look back on that period of
passion and prejudice and compare
the state of mind and conditions just
after the war with those of today, and
as we take account of what was ac-
tually accomplished of an enduring
nature, as against temporary setbacks
or mistakes and failures, the Treaty of
Versailles stands out more and more
as quite remarkable achievement,
marking a distinct advance in world
peace and progress.
Conditions Prior to Treaty.
Prior to that treaty, there was no
organized system Of international
conference or cooperation for dealing
with questions of common interest and
there was no concerted effort to settle
disputes in an orderly way instead Of by
violence. --tions dealt with one an
other mainly through the diplomatic
pouch. War was recognized as an in
herent right to sovereignty and as a
necessary and valuable instrument of
national policy with which it was not
polite for onlookers or innocent suffer-
erS to interfere. In the Treaty of Yer
sailles, this unsound doctrine was dis
carded; war was recognized as an evil
which 1t Is everybody'S business to pre-
vent: and far-reaching measures were
taken to secure united effort in remov-
ing the incentive to, as well as the ne
cessity for war.
The nations which signed the COW
enant and became members of the
: League Of Nations recognized that war
between some nations is matter of
concern to all nations, and they agreed
. not only to limitation of their right to
, wage war, but undertook to work to-
gether to prevent it. In compliance
with their pledge to seek the settlement
OF all disputes by pacific means, they
established a system of cooperation
: which they have since been developing
and using with increasing success and
% the benefit OF the entire world.
Quotes Root on Peace.
In speaking of this modern interna-
tional peace machinery, Mr.. Elihu Root,
that distinguished statesman who as
sisted so ably in the organization Of the
World Court and in the recent revision
OF its statute, has said:
The League in the political field and
the Court in the judicial field have been
rendering the best service in the cause
OF peace known to the history of civili-
2atson, incomparably the best"
While the United States has not seen
mt to join the League or even TO adj
here to the protocol of the Court, we
are getting better understanding and
appreciation Of the necessity and value
of this peace machinery, and that is
reducing our fear and prejudice and
. changing our attitude and policy. We
are not only finding it advisable and
. even necessary as a matter of self-in
! tereSt to cooperate more and more with
the League, but in the Kellogg BRAND
peace pact We have now joined with
other nations in renouncing war as an
instrument of national policies and have
also bound ourselves to seek only by
pacific means the settlement of all dis
! putes. II this treaty means anything,
, 1t IL that we will refrain from all ag-
greFsive war and earnestly endeavor to
find and use the most effective means
: possible for settling disputes and pre-
venting any kind Of war. II we are to
keep faith and live up to the word and
spirit of that treaty, we must either find
q way to make use of the peace ma
chinery that already exists and func-
tionS as satisfactorily as can be eX-
pected, or we must undertake the diff
cult task of setting up other machinery
with which to effect pacific settlements.
War Menace Still Remains.
While more distinct progress has been
made in the last decade toward the
prevention and elimination of war than
in all previous periods of history. the
menace of war has not been as yet re-
moved. In spite of treaties renouncing
war and Of the experience of the World
War, in which both victors and van
pushed lost, nations are still arming
and preparing for future wars. There
Is, however, an increasing realization
that in this age of science, invention
and industry modern warfare is so de-
SkEuCIlFe ana Tie eIlcCJ Oh IL 50 OlSdS-
trous and far-reaching it Is no longer
SAT. to employ such a dangerous force
or to let 1t loose. Furthermore, people
are becoming FESTIVE under the burdens
of past wars and those imposed for fu-
ture wars and are more than ever de-
termined to remove both the burden
and the menace of war.
While human nature may not have
changed there has been gain in hui
kY0uladCp and eXnRriencR which
has led to a change in the attitude to-
ward war and an improvement in the
methods Of preventing it. Above all
there Is a growing realization that
there is more to be gained from CO.
operation than conflict, and there is q
growing habit on the part Of nations
to 20 into conference or court to settle
their differences while 1t is possible To
! Seto 80 rather than to wait and allow