The Washington times., 1914-09-23
COL. ROOSENELT'S PLAN.

The world will be very sure to
listen to suggestions from former
President Roosevelt dealing with TIE
re-establishment and then the main
tenance of peace. He has both a
war record and a peace record. He
has proved himself a magnificent
military administrator, ard he has
been awarded the Nobel peace prize.
He knows all sides of the question;
and when he suggests, in his article
in the current Outlook. that, in pres
ent circumstances, "reconmenda-
tons for universal disarmament
stard on an intellectual oar with rec
concentrations to establish 'reace' in
New York city by doing away with
the police" he comes very rear the
average mans feeling.
But, the former President has,
none the less, a plan which he be-
lieves promises good results. 1t is
for great "world agreement among
all the civilized military powers to
back righteousness by force" Such
an agreement, he points out, would
establish an efficient World League
for the Peace of Righteousness" He
adds:
Such an agreement could limit the
amount to be spent on arDlaments. and
after defining ref1l1y tho ira hla
rights of each nation which We're not
to be transgressed by any other, could
also provide that any cause of differ
ence among them, or between one of
them anG one of certain number
of designated outside non-military
nations. should be submitted to an
international court, including citizens of
all these nations, chosen not as repre-
sentatives of the nations. but as judges
and perhaps in any given case the par
ticular judges could be chosen by lot
from among the total number.
To supplement and make this effectual
1t should be solemnly convenanted that
If any nation refused to abide by the
decision of such a court the others
would draw the sword on behalf of
l.cace and justice and would unitedly
Coerce tie recalcitrant nation. This
plan would not automatically bring
peace, and 1t may be too soon to hope
for its adoption; but II some such
scheme could be adopted. in good faith
and with g genuine purpose behind it
to make it effective. then We would
have come nearer to the day Of world
peace. World peace will not come save
in some such manner as that whereby
We obtain peace within the borders OF
each nation: that is, by the creation OF
reasonably impartial judges and by put
ting an efficient police power-that is.
by putting force in efficient fashion
behind the DEGREES of the judges. VI
present each nation must in the last
resort trust to its own strength II II Is
to preserve all that makes life worth
having. At present this IL imperative
This state of things can he abolished
only when we put force. when we put
the collective armed power OF clvlilza-
ton behind somebody watch shall with
reasonable justice and equity represent
the collective determination OF ciNlllza-
tion to do what is right
This, in short, is the proposal OF
an international police force, to en-
force the DEGREES of a "parliament of
man." federation Of the world"
1t is proposed by Colonel Roosevelt
as a means of preventing such hor-
rors as that of the unprovoked in
vasion of Belgium. The Be!gians
surely were not to blame for that;
they could not prevent it: It was
conceded even in the German parlia-
ment to be wrongful; it could only
be justified on the ground of mill
tary necessity; and military neces-
sity would not have dictated such
treatment of country strong
enough effectively to defend itself.
In other words, might, and might
alone, made right in the case Of Ger
nany's invasion of Belgium. The
United sentiment of civilization
viewed the act with horror. 1t has
done vastly more than anything else
to unity the opinion of the neutral
world against Germany. If that
opinion could have been invoked in
advance; or if, invoked after the
fact, it had had means Of co-opera-
ton in enforcing It's verdict. the war
might have been avoided.
Colonel Rooscvelt's proposal is not
novel; but his support of it will
command wider md more serious
consideration than it has yet had.
The pathetic lncapaclty OF Inc
Hague tribunal to serve any efficient
purpose of warding off conflict has
made very plain that a new system
must be adopted if civilization is to
make its voice heard as against the
constant menace that unrestralned
presents % the peace-loV-
ing nations and peoples of the world. !
Out of this war will come, when |
tempers have cooled and results
have been appraised, 4 Worldwide ,
consideration of measures 20 prevent
or localize future conflicts. The |
Roosevelt plan is SUI. to be IN the
forefront of all tn. discussions.
HJn~JNrI. NNTEC nnDNp