America and the League.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17120, 15 April 1921, Page 6

America and the League.

The resolution providing for the termination of the still existing state of war between the United Stjatjjs and Germany which Senator Knox introduced on Wednesday in the American Senate follows, in its chief features, the lines indicated in recent reports from America, referred to in our columns last week. The resolution is noteworthy for its reservation to the United States of nil the rights, powers, privileges, indemnities, and so on, accruing to the signatories to the Treaty , of Versailles, though not itself among their number. But it is chiefly remarkable for the omission of the amendment which Mr Knox proposed to attach to it. We quoted this amendment in our previous reference to this matter, but it is desirable to print it here again. As framed in January it ran as follows: — It is the declared policy of the United States, in order to meet fully and fairly our obligations to ourselves and to the world, that, the freedom and peace of Europe being again threatened by any Power or combination of Powers, tho 'United States will regard such a situation with grave concern, as & menace to its own peace and freedom, will consult with other nations affected with a view to devising means for the removal of such menace, and will, the necessity arising in the future, co-operate with the friends of civilisation for its defence. We pointed out at this time that if this meant anything it meant that in the last extremity America would intervene in European affairs to the ex' tent of helping by armed force to preserve peace, and we expressed curiosity to see how far such a departure from their declared Republican policy would have the President's support. It is clear that ha does not support it at all, for in his first message to Congress he said he opposed the inclusion in the peace resolution of any declaration of future policy regarding Europe. While thus adhering theoretically to America's traditional policy, of keeping clear of "entangling alliances," the President obviously recognised that America cannot set up a sort of perpetual quarantine against all connexion with foreign politifcs, for he admitted that the situation was so involved that America's peace engagements could'not ignore Old World relationships and the settlement* already effected. But he will have none of the League of Nations. His belief that this League is dead is unfounded, but it is admittedly much less effective than it would be if the United States were a member. Having spurned the idea of joining the League and thus making it effective, the President had to devise means for honouring his campaign pledges regarding the steps to bo taken by America to lessen the risks of war among the nations. On this subject Mr Harding has been discreetly non-committal as regards details up to the present, and even in his message to Congress he avoided definite Iproposals. But as far back as last Christmas after ex-President Taft had had a consultation with him he permitted the publication.of a statement of certain principles which he had resolved to adopt. These included a conviction that, in default of the League, a common ground of procedure must be found' with, the leading Powers, and that their moral force must be directed toward a gradually effective limitation of armament, a belief that a Court must be established with jurisdiction over all justiciable questions, a desire to bring about a conference of nations to negotiate and press to compromise every non-justiciable question threatening war, and the application to rations of the same principle of courtesy and consideration that are employed among gentlewnu From another source it was reported that the broad feature of Mr Harding's plans for promoting international peace was tjie summoning in the immediate future of a conference of the- Great Powers for the purposo of pledging elimination of the idea of war as a future possible resort for settling international disputes. Such conferences would lay down as a moral law, though unenforceable save by the power of public opinion, n clear definition of what constitutes a violation of rights or encroachment upon the sovereignty of another nation, the President being of opinion that "a proclamation by the "loading nations of the basic principles "of international morality would, in " the- natural course, lead to the reduction of their armies and military " armaments." At no time, it may bo added, has Mr Harding either before or after his election, made any explicit statement as to the creation or methods of the world association of nation! which he proposes as a substitute for the League of Nations, but it may bo presumed that his idea is that it should do no more than express its adhesion to the "basic principles of international morality.'' If he really believes that world peace can be maintained by such means, he is the greatest optimist of the age. Most people will, we imagine, attach more importance to his proposals for the gradual limitation of arnuvnfents, which would indeed be an effective, step towards peace, and one that, if America showed greater disposition to reduce her own naval proprogramme, would be welcomed by other Powers. If Mr Harding and Congress havo faith in the effectiveness of the proposed World Association,

America will need no huge navy to protect her mercantile marine.