The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-22
HONOR IN WORLD AFFAIRS

President Roosevelt in his message to some
ffty-four states of the world
One might call to mind Washingtons neu-
trality proclamation at the outbreak of the
French revolutionary wars, Jeferson's embar-
go and nonintercourse act, Theodore Roose-
velt's action in settling the Russo-Japanese
war. the arbitration treaties negotiated under
Taft and Wilson, the peace efforts Of Wilson
IN 1915, Harding's summoning of the Wash
ington disarmament conference, and Hoover's
encouragement Of the Kellogg pact. But
none Of these compares in realism daring and
possibilities for good with Mr. Roosevelt's
present stroke.
Washington and Jefferson were more con-
cerned with American policy than with world
relations The action of Theodore Roosevelt
in 1905 was suggested by the two combatants
The arbitration treaties Of 191l-19l5 we're mild
affairs, not at all adequate to prevent war
Wilson had undermined his peace efforts
by secretly assuring the allies that his SYM
pathies were with them, and that the United
States might enter the war on their side.
The Washington disarmament conference.
aside from its far eastern treaties which since
have proved scraps of paper" did little more
than agree to scrap obsolete armament. The
Kellogg pact, as actually signed, was the great
est tissue of fraud and futility in the history
of modern international relations
Mr. Roosevelt's appeal however, goes to the
root of matters and may save the world from
the greatest military calamity which thus far
has overtaken it,
The Roosevelt message was extremely time
ly and strategic The allies seemed determined
TO reject the German demand for equality
through increasing its armed forces to the
level Of the ornaments of the neighbors of
Germany But they also frowned upon Civ
ing Germany equality through cutting down
their own disproportionately large ornaments.
A clash OF policies was imminent, which easily
might have bathed the world once more in
blood.
President Roosevelt had the sense and
knowledge to recognize that the case of the
allies against Germany was very weak. so long
as they sat tight with their vast ornaments
and denied Germany the right to reasonable
military and naval strength.
The only ground for holding GERMANY
down was the ancient and riddled scarecrow
OF war propaganda, to the effect that she had
been the sole aggressor in 1914. To ATTEMPT
to keep Germany relatively disarmcd in
world bristling with ornaments was both il
logical and unfair.
Germany was bound, under the circunl-
stances to attempt to rearm, with conse-
quences which might prove intellectually dis
aStrous to humanity.
The sensible and just thing to do was to
give Germany equality through reduction of
the ornaments of her overarmed neighoors
The Macdonald plan envisagcs a real step in
this direction President Roosevelt seized the
opportunity to recommend this as the start
ing point for an equitable solution of the
tangle.
This procedure will afford Justice to Ger
many and, at the same time, will put Hitler
in a hole if he plans any grandiose military
gesture. If, on the other hand, he acquesces
in the Roosevelt Macdonald proposals, he will
cut the ground from under those who charge
him with being merely an irresponsible fire
brand
There is one notorious defect in the Mac
Donald plan which will need to be remedied
before it will hold any assurance of guaran-
teeing peace and security
This plan rests upon the promise of gain
ing security by consultation under the Kel-
logg pact" But so long as the hypocriticaI
and deceptive reservations to this pact are
allowed to stand, there is no protection in the
document
According to these reservations, which
Britain and France insisted upon putting into
the Kellogg pact before they would sign it,
the signatory powers do not renounce wars
of elf-defense wars in defense of areas of
special interest like India and the Caribbean
wars in fulfllment of previous treaty obliga-
lions, or wars engaged in to execute sanctions
of the League of Nations.
In other words, the Kellogg pact, so long
as hamstrung by the reservations, does not
apply to any war likely to be waged. There
is no diplomat worth his salt who could not
bring any war within one of these four ex-
empted categories.
Mr.. Roosevelt has moved to spike this
sham when he proposes that the nations agree
that they will send no armed force of what
soever nature across their frontiers"
There is no way of renouncing war save
actual remuneration under any and all cir
cumstances. Once any exception is made, the
door is wide open for every kind of subter-
fuge. evasion, and deceit.