Evening star., 1945-07-03
Trumon's S League Plea
Contrusted to Wilson's S
Hostility Changed TO Friendiiness
Since July, 1919, Says Observer
By David Laurence

Twenty minutes spent in the press
gallery Of the Senate watching President
Truman deliver his brief address sub
mitting the United Nations Charter
made an indelible impression because 1t
brought TO mind the contrast between
this and similar events on July 10, 1919.
On that date President Wilson sub
mitted the Covenant of the League of
Nations to the Senate.
In the one instance, quarter of
century ago, you could feel the hostility
in the air. In the other you could feel
the friendliness One was ominous and
indicated a bitter battle. The other
plainly indicates ratification and is an
augury of Americas decision to par
ticipate in a new league of nations.
There were two contrasts. Mr.. Wilson
was sedate, austere person. He never
had served in Congress. He had be-
come detached especially during the
war, from questions of domestic policy
as he concentrated on foreign policy.
Mr. Truman oozes friendliness His
personality blends easily and readily
with those around him. He doesn't
rely on oratory or emotion. He states
simply that the choice isn't. between
this Charter and some other but between
this Charter or none. All the members
of the Senate understand him and get
his point. No elaborate argument Is
necessary.
Value Of Farley in U. S.
But this simple presentation could not
have been so convincing if the confer
ence had been held at Paris as it was
26 years ago. The American people are
fortunate that they were able to see
the Charter in the making over period
of more than nine weeks. They saw,
through hundreds of press representa-
tives, what was done to bring about
agreement at San Francisco. Clearly
the value of having the United Nations
Charter written at a. meeting in this
country is inestimable and assures rati-
f1cation of the treaty. For the American
people know that 1t was a meeting of
sovereign equals and that mere major
/. ity vote could not have bound any coun-
try that wished to refrain from partici-
patton. To get an agreement which so
nations could sign, especially in this
confused period of world affairs, Is in
deed miraculous achievement.
AS one watched the reception which
President Truman received-it was the
first time he had appeared formally in
the Senate chamber since he left it as
its presiding officer last April-there
was no doubt about the cordiality and
warmth of the applause. The Senate
really took advantage of the occasion to
tell Harry Truman it wished him well.
There was a striking informality and
ease as Mr.. Truman mounted the ros-
trum and in almost conversational tones
presented the matter in hand. 1t took
only a few minutes to read the pre-
pared manuscript, but when the Presi-
dent finished and started up the center
aisle, he caught sight of old friends and
leaned over a desk on one side and then
on the other side to shake hands with
Republicans and Democrats alike One
felt more than ever convinced that
America ought to select its Presidents
from men with congressional expert
ence. Curiously enough, nearly two
thirds of the men who have sat in the
White House have had legislative rec
ords in elective Office.
President Truman brings to the pres
ent situation a trend toward harmony
which has been sadly lacking in our
foreign affairs. Partisanship helped kill
the Covenant of the League of Nations
26 years ago-or rather it might be
called bipartisanship of a negative sort
because mistakes were made on both
sides.
Almost No Opposition.
Today there is almost no opposition
to the new League of Nations. The
ardent believers in the old League are
for it, not because they compare it
with the Covenant clause but because
the new Charter represents the best
that can be obtained today. The op-
| ponentS of the old League are for the
new Charter because they feel safe
! guards have been introduced which pre-
vent the Superstate or world-state idea
from being imposed on America. ~,
! AS for the "isolationists,> a handful
may vote against the Charter, but even
here there were only few who didn't
really want America to engage in some
form of international cooperation.
The new Charter provides system
Of international conference that does
not go beyond the bounds of SOW
ereignty. Each national legislature or
government still will have to decide for
itself in every concrete situation whether
i will furnish military support for en-
forcement, which means that each ma
ton will be the judge in every instance
of the merits of disputes as they arise
Surely nobody can find a persuasive
reason for objecting to such proce-
dure. For, while it may not always guar
antee peace, it is perhaps in these
times as good a formula as any that
could be devised to introduce once more
the factor Of conscience and moralit
in international relations.
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