Milford chronicle., 1929-12-27
COOLIDGE ADVISES KEEP OUT
OF LEAGUE.

IN the autoDlOgraphy or Calvin
Coolidge, which has just appeared in
book form, the author sounds a
warning to the American people
against their entrance into the
League of Nations that deserves to
rank with the advice and counsel of
the Farewell Address.
This warning is born to Mr.. Cool
idge's experience as president in the
conduct of our foreign relations, and
is as follows:
"The more have seen of the con-
duct of our foreign relations the
more I am convinced that we are
better off out of the League. Our
government is not organized in a
way that would enable us adequately
to deal with it. Nominally our for
eign affairs are in the hands of the
president. Actually the senate is
always attempting to interfere, too
often in a partisan way and many
times in opposition to the president.
Our country is not racially homogen-
eous. While the several nationali-
ties represented here are loyal to the
Uniter States, yet when differences
arise between tn European countries,
each group is naturally in sympathy
with the nation of its origin. Our
actions in the League would con-
stantly be embarrassed by this sit
uation at home. The votes of our
delegates there would all the time
disturb our domestic tranquility
here. We have come to realize this
situation very completely now, but
in 1920 it was not so clear"
Substantially the same argument
was used by the first president of the
United States in support of his aim
"to keep the United States free from
political connection with every other
country, to see them Independent of
all and under the influence of none"
Washington's ardent desire was to
see his people develop as nation an
American character that the powers
of Europe may be convinced that we
act for ourselves and not for others" 3"
When Washington offered Patrick
Henry the Secretaryship of State in
1895, he wrote him to the effect, and
added:
"This in my judgment is the only
way to be respected abroad and hap
by at home; and not, by becoming
partisans of Great Britain or France,
create dissensions, disturb the pub
lie tranquility, and destroy, perhaps,
forever, the cement that binds the
Union"
What the genius of his statesman
ship enabled George Washington to
foresee, was made plain to Calvin
Coolidge by his experience and his
observation during more than five
years of his presidency.
And Mr.. Coolidge grew in the pres
idency because he was big enough
to change his mind in the light of the
facts and under the teaching of ex-
perience.
It was not his good fortune to be
among the first to sense the dangers
that membership in the League held
for the United States. He was re-
elected governor of Massachusetts, in
1919 upon a platform that called for
immediate ratification, with reserva-
tions, of the League covenant.
But long before he entered the
White House, the wisdom of that SEN
atorial interference which saved his
country from ENHANCEMENT with the
League, became apparent to him.
Now, as a private citizen, Mr.. Cool
idge takes the American people into
his confidence, gives them the bene-
fit of his presidential experience, and
warns them against the League OF
Nations in words that every Amer1-
can should "read, mark, learn and
inwardly digest" Omaha Bee.