Show national affairs by FRANX FRANK P LITSCHERT the rabid internationalist and the unreasoning reason ling pacifist who would endanger and sa if necessary legitimate amer american c an interests for some fine spun international program which would be impracticable and unworkable to r bay ay the least will find little consolation in president ident t hoovers inaugural address on the otner hand those americans americana who sincerely desire peace and who favor all steps toward that end compatible with the safeguarding of american interests will find much that will commend itself I 1 in n the presidents sound arid and logical address 0 0 0 athe president pointed the way to america and it Is the path which has hag been traditionally trod tor for more than a century support of the tha world court waa advocated under proper reservations and the president then pointed out the two roads open tor for the promotion of peace one Is the road taken by europe through the league of nations and its agreements to use force it if necessary to maintain the peace the other Is the path now being taken in the western hemisphere over which we are seeking peace through enlightened public opinion the league path any sane american can see would involve the united states in innumerable complications and in political questions in which we have no interest and would thereby endanger our chance for peace on the other hand the american idea depending on enlightened public opinion while it may not always be effective Is the most effective plan that can be inaugurated augu rated in the present imperfect stage of world wo ri d civilization it Is the plan used in n the ke kellogg logg pact and it Is the plan which will prevent war it if war is to be prevented the league plan as the president states has been rejected by the american people one of the most american and wholesome sections ot of the presidents speech was that in which he declared that 1 I until such tune time as nations can build the agencies of pacific settlements on stronger foundations and until the power ot of world opinion can act as a restraint in time ot of trouble there will not have been established that confidence which warrants the abandonment of preparedness for defense among nations to do so BO would bo be to invite war continuing the president said bald 1 I am tor for adequate preparedness as a guarantee that no foreign soldier shall ever step upon the soil of our country our nation has said bald with millions of voices I 1 that we ve desire only defense that Is the effect of the covenant we have entered into not to use war as an instrument of national policy no american will arise t aday and say eay that we vve wish one gun or one armed man beyond that necessary lor for the defense of our people to do so would create distrust in other nations and also would be an invitation to war proper defense requires military strength relative to that of other nations we will reduce our naval strength in proportion to any other having said that it only remains tor for the others to say how 1077 1071 they will go 90 it cannot be too low tor for us surely in this statement the tha dent Is speaking tor for the great body ot of the tha american people here la Is the answer to those rabid inte internationalists rn rationalists who he have ve claimed that the united states by refusing to join the tha league ot of nations has been standing in the way of peace we can work more effectively and more constructively lor for peace if 11 v we 6 stay atay out of th the 0 log of european suspicions and mutual jealousies lealou 0 aw 40 in III his suggestion that as a step edep toward freedom of the seas BOILS ships bearing food in time ot of war shall have the same came status as hospital ships the president Is appealing to the idealism of the world he does not expect this suggestion to be written immediately into international law does not even eap exp expect act that it will loom large in the coming naval conference bence but it Is at least worth thinking about and worth discussing and may awell well serve to direct the thought of the world into constructive channels |