NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 138, 6 March 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

To-day is the last day for getting on to the electoral roll for the licensing poll next month. A_ great many people, perhaps the majority, are inclined to trust- to luck on such occasions, and many regret their remissness when polling day draws near. On the present_ occasion the agents of the conflicting interests have been so very activc that it is probable most people have already had the matter of enrolment brought- under their personal attention; hut those who have not seen that their names are on the roll or who have not been officially informed of their enrolment would be wise to make certain of their position before 6 o'clock this evening if they wish to record their vote on the.liquor question.

The President of the United States is in general a mild-man-nered and soit-spoken man, but on occasion he can express himself with a downright emphasis that commands respect and'admiration. An instance in point is his statement, reported to-day: "If the United States do& not enter the League it will be the most contemptible nation in the world.'' This, uncompromising 'utterance is hiuv to be vastly more effective than the somewhat vapid talk about American idealism in which tho President indulged in his recent .speech at Boston. At Boston he showed his tactical skill chiefly in giving his enemies no opening for attack, but now ho is carrying the war vigorously into their territory, and the change is refreshing. His challenging words would be 'unjust and uncalled for if they were addressed to the American people as a whole, but it is- evident from the context that they are not so addressed. The President declares that he is still convinced that the people of the United States are in favour of the League of Nations. His object manifestly is to cpnfound his political opponents ' who have raised their voice against the League and to show that if their opposition succeeded the result woula be not to bring about his own personal discomfiture, but to destroy the conditions vital to a seciure peace, and to prevent America playing the only part consistent with self-re-spect. As far as can be judged from the cablegrams there is the greatest possible contrast between the petty and fault-finding tone of recent criticisms of the League of Nations by some Republican Senators and the' President's bold challenge. The critics are now called upon in a particularly direct and forcible way to show how their attitude is to be reconciled with' a due discharge of the international duties and responsibilities their country is bound to face if it is to escape contempt.

In every part of his latest utterance President Wilson takes a notably firm and resolute tone. Ho lays it down, for example, that the League of Nations is a notice to all Powers that the rest of the world will go to war to prevent aggression. This is the boldest interpretation of the constitution of the League that has yet been advanced. • How far it is coloured by optimism it is impossible at present to say, but its acceptance by the American nation, and the institution of the practical measures of international co-operation which such acceptance would connote, would go far to give it living reality. The danger at present, in sight is that mere expressions of good will may be offered in place of actual safeguards of peace, but if President Wilson stands to his words and is supported in his attitude by the American people safeguards of peace ought speedily to assume tangible shape.

It is believed to be possible, ac-' cording fc> one of to-day's messages, that Britain may forgo an indemnity from Germany in view of the heavy claims by France and Belgium. Facts and figures presented from time to time have made it sufficiently evident that there are no practicable means of compelling Germany to Jfully make good the havoc she has wrought in the world, and that it may be impossible to compel her, while restoring devastated territory, to recoup the bare war costs incurred by the Allied nations in bringing her to justice. The hopelessness of exacting anything like full compensation is so evident that not a little odium is cast 'upon those who have argued against "punitive indemnities." There has never been any prospect of exacting such indemnities from Germany. Should it prove that no more can be exacted than will suffice to meet the most urgent claims of nations whose territory has been. devastated, chivalrv will permit only one decision. What is available must go to the nations that have buffered most. But there should be no thought of writing-off any item in the bill of damages against the Hun while a hope of collecting it remains.