New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-17
FORCE A FACTOR
I'm LEAGUE PLAN
TO KEEP PEACE
Member Nations Given
Right to Compel Observ-
ance of Pledges.
TWO TRIBUNALS
TO BE PROVIDED
Taft Outlines Details of the
Scheme To Be Discussed by
Its Advocates To-day.

Its Advocates To-day.
PHILADELPHIA. June lex President
Taft in an address mere tonight, out
lined the plan for the proposed League
of Peace which will be discussed in
Independence Hall tomorrow. Mr..
Taft held that n league could be formed
which would enable nations to avoid
war by furnishing a practical means
for settling international Guarrels or
"suspending them until the binding
heat of passion mad cooled"
At the conference tomorrow pro-
poGals will be considered for a league
of peace, and steps will be taken to
obtain the support OF public opinion
ard of governments. The National
Provisional Committee, which called
tho conference, includes we'll known
publicists, educators, peace advocates,
editors and economists.
This committee gave a dinner to-
night, at which Mr.. Taft was assigned
the keynote speech. Others who spoke
we're President Lowell of Harvard Uni
versity, Oscar 6. Straus, a member Of
The Hague court; Hamilton Holt, o.
New York. and ex-Judge George Gray,
of Delaware, also a member of The
Hague court.
Not to End Present War.
eve wish first to say that we do not
represent anybody but ourselves" said
Mr. Taft. ave are not here TO suggest
means of bringing this war TO an
end. Much as that is to be desired,
and much as we would be willing to do
to secure peace, that is not within the
project Of the present meeting.
I'VE think a league OF peace could
be formed which would enable nations
TO avoid war by furnishing a practical
means of settling international quar-
rels, or suspending them until the
binding heat of passion had cooled.
When the world conference is held our
country will have its official represen-
tatives to speak for us. We, tailors OF
Tooley Street, will not be there, but if
in our sartorial leisure We shall have
discussed and framed a practical plan
for a league of peace our official rep
resentatives will be aided, and may IN
their discretion accept il and present
it TO the conference as their own.
"In no way has the direct interest
that neutrals have in preventing war
between neighbors been so clearly made
known. This interest of neutrals has
been so forced upon them that IL would
require only slight development and
growth in the law of international re-
lations to develop that interest into a
right to be consulted before such d war
among neighbors can be begun. This
step we hope TO have taken by the
formation of a peace league of the
great powers, whose primary and fund
amental principle shall be that no war
can take place between any two mem
bers of the league until they have re-
sorted to the machinery that the
league proposes to furnish to settle
the controversy likely to lead to war.
IF any member refuses to use THIS
machinery, and attacks another mem
Der of the league in breach Of his
league obligation, all members Of the
league agree to defend the members
attacked by force.
Right to Use Force.
Owe do not think the ultimate resort
to force can be safely omitted from an
effective league Of peace. We SIN
cerely hope that it may never become
necessary, and that the deterrent ei-
feet of its inevitable use in case OF a
breach Of the league obligation Will
help materially to give sanction 20
the laws of the league and to render
resort to force avoidable.
eve are not peacc-at-any-price men,
because we do not think we have reached
the time when a plan based or the
complete abolition Of war is practca-
Bile. As long as nations partake of the
frailtios of men who compose them war
is a possibility, and that possibility
should not De ignored in any league OF
peace that is to be useful. We do not
think il necessary 10 call peace-at-any-
price men towards, or apply other cpl
thets to them. We have known IN his
tory the most noble characters VINO adj
hercd TO such a view, and yet whose
physical and moral courage is herit-
age of mankind.
"To those who differ with us in our
view of the necessity for this feature
of possible force in our plan we say:
Eve respect your attitude. We admit
your claim to sincere patriotism to be
as lust as ours We do not ascribe
vour desire 10 avoid war to be a fear
of death to yourselves or your sons,
but, rather, TO your sense OF the nor
rors, injustice and ineffectveness OF
settling any international issue by such
a brutal arbitratment. Nevertheless,
we differ with you in judgment that IN
the world of nations as they are war
can be completely avoided. We believe
il is still necessary to use threat OF
overwhelming force of great league
with a willingness 10 make the threat
GOOD, in order TO brighten nations into
a use of rational and peaceful means
to settle their issues with their asso-
ciates or the league. Nor are we mill
tants or jingoes. We are trying 10
follow a middle path.
Two Tribunals Proposed.
"Now, what is the machinery, a re-
sort 10 which we wish to force an IN
tending belligerent of the league? 1t
consists Of two tribunals, to one OF
which every issue must be submitted.
Issues between nations are OF two
classes: First, issues that can be de-
cided on principles Of international
law and equity, called justiclable; sec
ond, issues that cannot be decided on
such principles of law and equity, but
which might be quite as irritating and
provocative Of war. called non-JustlcI-
able.
"The questions Of the Alaskan bouu-
darv. of the Boring Sea seal fishing,
and of the Alabama claims were JUS
ticiable issues that could be settled by
q court. exactly as the Supreme Court
would settle claims between states. The
questions whether the japanese should
be naturaiized. whether all American
citizens should be admitted TO Russia
as merchants without regard to relig-
ious faith, are capable OF causing great
irritation against the nation denying
the privilege, and yet such nations, IN
the absence OF treaty on the SUP
iect. arc completely within their inter.
national right, and the rea essence OF
the trouble cannot be aided by resort
10 a court. The trouble is non-Jus-