Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-19
A League of Nations
To Enforce Peace
John Bates CLARK,

Rrofessor Political Boonomy, Columbia UntveTHaty'
THE belligerent nations have now fought over a
i year and half and can fight much longer
without bankruptcy Though they should spend
SOOOOOOOO day for 1000 consecutive days, their out
lays would fall short Of their total and "
they should fight for ten years their lands would still
remain, with most Of their buildings and other i'm
provements. and would their railways. harbors,
mines and canals
But what will be the condition Of the countries II
peace shall at the end Of three years Of war
fare?
The productive properties that will remain will be
mortgaged TO the creditors Of the states. Taxation
will have reached a limit that will con'scate large
share Of every income.
There will be a need Of costly reforms and de
mand for them backed by and powerful democ-
racy.
Unless something new and effective can be done 70
make great armaments unnecessary the old rivalry
in enlargfng them will continue
There is one possible escape from this and only
one-namaiy. league OF nations that preserve the
peace and make great ornaments gradually less neces
sarY. What world Is fighting for security
against more fighting.
Every nation thinks it important that peace
should stay when 1t than that it should
at any particular time. The Teutons would like 20
insure this by conquering their enemies and making
themselves dominant, and the allies have like ambi-
ton,
In the one case there would be a Pax Romana-a
other there would be peace by league of consider.
able number Of the European nations and Aslatc
power
Conceivably a single union might embrace all OF
these states. The two warning leagues might lay
aside their enmities and FORM II were great
for the protection of mankind They might bury the
Ratchet rival producers bury It. for their own
mutual benefit. That would preserve peace while the
great union should last. The conditions that make
such a union difficult to form would II difficult
to preserve. It would seethe with jeaousies and
In perpetual danger of disruption.
The German power which has called the rival
union into being may help in an essential way TO
preserve It It may furnish q needed bond of union
capable OF holding the members together until the
strength Of the union shall be fully developed.
Even a strict neutral can that the entente has
an advantage the combination which is opposed
to II as the nucleus OF a league OF peace.
II is composed OF a number of nations OF co.
ordinate rank and bne them has in recent years
aspired to conquer another
There Is little danger that the entente would har.
Dor designs against the independence OF the smaller
European states. Between the several members there
Is certain balance of power. and no one OF them
would dare make in Europe at the expense
OF the others The union could offer to the smaller
nations trustworthy guaranty Of their territory ana
their independence.
With the terrible cost of the war in view and with
some such league as the sole guaranty against an
other well the means of escaping from
crushing military burdens. what possible reason "a
there for not creating tit
II, at the outset, It necessary that all nations
should Join It, the difficulties would indeed be serious
but they would be small in the case OF league which
should evolve naturally out OF an existing combination