If we were asked to put the President's speech in
a nutshell, we should summarize it as follows : ' I should like to join in a League to Enforce Peace. But a League to Enforce Peace means the maintenance of the status quo. You cannot, however, undertake to maintain tho status quo unless you approve of the status quo. Therefore you have got to review the world and reconstruct it on ideal lines before you can have your League to Enforce Peace.' But unfortunately such review and reconstruction would lead to about a dozen new wars, so delicate the ground and so tenacious are the nations of their sovereignty and independence. When Mr. Wilson sees that this is what he is up against in a proposal for a League of the Nations, he smiles a chilling smile and remarks to the Allies : Your job, gentlemen, not mine. If, however, you do it to my approval, but not unless, I will back the bill. Some endorsement, you will admit, I think.' In other words, if the Allies will got the motor-car out of the river and will repair and put it in thorough order, the President will write on the side : " Vu et approuve, Woodrow Wilson."
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