Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-17
RESPONSIBILITY
FOR WORLD PEACE
The International Policeman-Un-
lawful Force Must Be Opposed by
Force Used to Maintain Law.
Second-Thought War.
By A. LAWRENCE LOWELL



VALUABLE as are treaties for interna-
V tlonal arbitration. most thoughtful people
have become convinced that they must re-
main in large part ineffective for preventing
war without some means Of compulsion, It
is not enough for nations to agree to submit
disputes to arbitration If there is no power
to compel them to do so. We need not only
tribunal but also a policeman, or rather
sheriff and posse comitatus; and In the ABB
sence of any superior power to enforce the
treaties It would seem necessary for the ma
! tions themselves to adopt,eome plan whereby
! they agree to restrain anyone of their num-
| Der from making war upon another before
| submitting its grievance to the tribunal This
may involve the use of force, resort to war
to prevent war; and we must honestly face
that possibility Any one who is not pre-
pared to oppose unlawful force by force used
to maintain law is simply~aiding the doctrine
that might makes right.
For Americans tho participation in a
League Of Peace meansa departure from ira
dtions Of non-interference in tho affairs Of
other continents. But men who will not take
part in the posse comitatus of n sheriff in
enforcing the law, or quelling a riot, have
no business to critlclse his conduct or give
him advice 1t is sheer impertinence for us
to frame plans for preventing war in Europe,
or to instruct the nations there what they
ought to do If we are not to assume our
share of the responsibility and burden. BY
the force of circumstances; we have become
one of tho family Of nations and cannot
avoid being put in Jeopardy by breaches Of
the peace. IF, therefore, we cannot maintain
a position of complete political and moral iso-
latlon, we cannot refuse to take part in a
7 30 al.- oNt,o
tions ought to form.
Publicity as a War Prevention
The object of such league should be to
reduce the probability of war as much as
possible; for no one not sanguine to a mar
velously comfortable degree believes that by
any contrvance war can be at once and for
ever banished from the earth; and to at
tempt too much means to accomplish less.
The best aids in reducing the probability of
war would appear to be publicity and delay;
If the resort to arms could always be pre-
vented until the matter In dispute had been
submitted to public hearing before i'm
partial tribunal, even If It's decision is not
wholly satisfactory to the parties concerned,
much would be gained OF course, with hu-
man nature emotional and defective, it will
not always be possible so to constitute trl-
bunal that It's judgment will be fair; but 1t
ought to be possible always to secure fair
hearing, full public presentation Of evidence
and arguments, and that in itself would tend
to avert war Passion would have time to
cool down. public opinion would have a
chance to be formed both within the nation
and in other countries, the military advan-
tage of a sudden attack would be lost, and
people would consider soberly whether the
game was worth the candle.
Improvement Not Utopia
The proposal for a League of Peace pro-
vides, therefore, for an agreement between
all the great states In the world first. that
before taking up arms they will submit their
differences, If justiciable to an international
tribunal, and If not justciabe, to a council of
conciliation; and second that they will enforce
this by jointly declaring war on any mem
ber who attacks another before the matter
has been so submitted and reasonable time
allowed for hearing and judgment. That
the need of such joint enforcement of the
treaty would be highly improbable is self
evident. The knowledge that 1t would be
used would be enough; but it's whole effect
depends upon the fact that it is sincerely
intended, and would in any case be fully car
rled out If necessary No doubt any agree
ment among nations may be abOrtiVe, or may
break down at the time Of trial. and hence 1t
is wise not to make it too hard to fulfil. For
this reason the plan does not contemplate a
universal agreement to abide by, or enforce,
the decisions of the tribunal or council. A
nation that is perfectly willing to compel by
force of arms delay and hearing, may well
be reluctant to go to war to force another
state to accept decision which It does not
think just.
1t has been suggested that non-intercourse
should be submitted in the plan for enforce
ment by arms; yet this would be far less
effective in preventing war, and in fact more
difficult to carry out.
A country that has bound itself to its
nelghbors to go to war under certain condi-
tions may be expected to do so, but to upset
all trade and industry by non-intercourse in
wolves delay and strenuous commercial oppo-
sition at home hard to overcome
War is a terrible thing. involving fierce
passions, and It can be prevented only by
strong, bold and rapid measures. The plan
presented is not free from defectsi 1t contem-
plates not a utopia, but an Improvement;
yet of all the proposals so far put forward 1t
seems to offer the best prospects for remov-
ing this scourge.
RATS IN THE TOWER
From the Boston Record.
IL H.