The Washington times., 1915-06-25
objections Advanced to America
Making Any Entang|ing A.
lance.
IS NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY
Plan Might Bind Nation to Con-
tribute to War, Say Military
Experts.

The league to enforce peace which was
launched last week in Philadelphia, at
a meeting attended by former President
Taft and others Of prominence. is not
likely to get far. judging by the manner
- which It is being received in Wash
ington. Thus far there is little sign It
will find favor with the Senate of the
United States. which along with the
President is the treaty making power,
or that the Administration is going to
get behind 1t. Among army and navy
men. the league is not taken with much
seriousness.
Two objections are urged by those
who oppose the leagues propaganda.
One is that the United States would
have to engage in an "entangling alli-
ance' with European and other foreign
nations. The other is that the United
States might easily find itself in a situ-
alton where 1t would have to contribute
, heavily in ships and men and guns to
European war in which 1t had only
an indirect interest.
Frying Pan To Fire.
''The proposed league to enforce peace
would get US out of the frying pan into
the fire. said an army expert today.
Certainly 1t does not harmonic with
the idea of unpreparedness."
1t Ia pointed out that thus far Congress
has refused to take the measures which
most military men deem necessary to
prepare the United States for defensive
war.
~
as adopted in resolutions offered by
President, Lowell of Harvard, is that
the signatory powers shall be bound to
'.upmit Justiciable questions to judicial
than 5usticiable to a council of concilia-
tion for hearing, consideration and rec
>omme9dation. Further, 1t Is provided
mat mat the Joint powers shall together use
tnelr economic and military forces
against any signatory power that goes
TO war without submitting the question
In dispute in the manner mentioned.
Some Objections. ..
There are those who say that in the
nrst place, under the present conditions
Of national hatreds 1t would be imposz
sible to get all the leading nations into
the league. Under the wording of the
resolution. a nation not. signatory would
not be subject to the rules of the league.
That Is, If a nation which did not sign
the agreement chose to turn suddenly
on a signatory power to the league
would not be bound to give assistance.
The league does not purpose to go to
the point of compelling its signatories to
obey its rules and at the same time to
compel non-members to keep hands off
signatories.
One military authority said today
that the United States would serious
~ expose itself to an offensive war
by Joining such a federation.
Suppose. he said. that the league
was formed with all the chief ma
tions signing the agreement. Suppose
Germany and France or Germany and
England. to illustrate. had trouble as
might well occur by reason Of their
old grudges. Not waiting for formal
tiles. Germany might suddenly launch
drive at her enemy
The United States would be COM
PEELED to furnish for the league levies
anywhere from 100000 to 100000
men, for land service, to say nothing
or ships. guns. muuitions and the like.
Congress is much more likely, he said
to take steps to enhance the defensive
power of the United States than It Is to
enter any worldwide alliance. on the
theory that the abolition of war and
preparedness must be an evolution, and
that in the meantime 1t would be Just
as we'll for Uncle Sam not to hang ND
his gun. Neither, he said, could it be
, expected that the element in Congress
this country would favor the plan.