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Show Crave Elements Faced hJ.7Mii.tl; o!3'& thV's'wi'e: look at wHd tituttion. It Is timely to survey the sit- ' uatinn, as we enter on the eighteenth eight-eenth year since demobilisation of the American expeditionary fores. Twenty-one years ago, the slogan, "He kept ua out of war." waa forecast fore-cast In the election campaign. Thia time of year in 1U, the great battle was raging that brought to a close the war to end wars. Such hope for enduring endur-ing peace has often risen high during great conflicts; but jealousies, jeal-ousies, resentments, hatreds, and other smoldenngs continue, beyond be-yond the power of treatiea to control con-trol or allay. The civilised world was shocked by treaty violation In 114. but far from enhancing treaties' sacrednesa, the world has aeen atill more of such flagrant disregard. A new form of friendly friend-ly Intervention makes old-time savagery seem tame. And again our country ia menaced with being be-ing drawn into war not of our making. Reassuring Determination . Threatening as the world situation situa-tion is of general conflagration, there are factors of reassurance. Among many peoples, especially American and British, determination determina-tion is strong against going to war. The thought behind President Presi-dent Wilson's phrase, "too proud to fight," is taking more popular form aa "too intelligent to settle differences by barbarities." Among statesmen the attitude toward resort to war has altered radically, for undaunted pursuit of peaceful adjustment Before 1914. war as an Instrument of national na-tional policy was calculated upon coolly. Even the letters of Queen Victoria reveal an IncUnation to force conformity by arms. The r cost of war was weighed against ' the gain by success and loss by defeat: but the cost in life and misery was recokened too little. The World war and its aftermath have brought home to statesmen their responsibility as never before. be-fore. Instead of the ultimatum, conference follows conference, to gain time, the great need of the defense; and statesmen work un-flaKgingly un-flaKgingly now in defense of peace. The adroitness and skillful formulas which often evoke satirical sa-tirical comment are invaluable in leaving some door open for further fur-ther negotiating without loss of face. The prestige of a minister or a government doea not now outweigh the nation's peace. There is a new appraisement of what is vltsl to a nation and what will satisfy her honor. Historical Peace Policy Our government, from early In Its course under the constitution, has been a foremost leader in promoting settlement by negotiation. negotia-tion. In immediate results we have often taken losses, but in long effect the United States and the world at large have gained by our traditional policy in international interna-tional affairs. Visionary Its mean have been, many times, but the policy embodies a great vision; and th record shows it to be fair and friendly dealing for mutual advantage, with respect for other nations' territory, soversignty and customs. In practice our statesmen have sought to forestall differences by removing probable causes. The Monroe doctrine is the outstanding outstand-ing example of policy. prevenUve of unforeseeable possibilities of conflict in the western hemi- sphere. President Theodore Roosevelt sought constantly, by anticipating Imminent issues, to prevent their arising. President Tatt, though admitting that devices de-vices for perpetuating peace too often count upon behavior contrary con-trary to human usage, nevertheless neverthe-less ardently persevered for unlimited un-limited arbitration. President Wilson went to ths limit, even to maintaining world peace by force of arms. In the three succeeding administrations the United States made unprecedented sacrifices in means of defense, in the persistent persist-ent hope that other naUons would follow suit. And President Franklin Frank-lin Roosevelt has taken strong lead for good neigh borliness and cooperation among nations. Thus steadily and consistently has our nation worked for world peace. Grave Elements Confronted The grave sfements In the present pres-ent situation are hard times, enormous enor-mous debts and crushing taxes, disorganization and discontent from the war and its settlements, and struggle everywhere for relief re-lief from economic preasurs. Never Nev-er were problema so many, ao serious se-rious or so difficult for human solution. Underneath all is th unrest fostered by subversive agitation. ag-itation. If statesmen can prevent or localise lo-calise open conflict, their efforts show no stone unturned to do so. Thoughtful men may support these leaders In their heavy responsibility re-sponsibility by sparing them criticism, crit-icism, honoring their purpose and respecting the fact that their Information In-formation ia better than the public's. pub-lic's. War's causes lie deep end are often beyond governmental con- |