The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-18
PEACE BY POWER
Force Necessary to Maintain
World Federation of States.
Geo. HI. Putnam Tells Members
Arbitration Conference.
NEED WORLD SUPREME COURT
Backed by Power of All Nations
in League.
Peace of United States Con-
trOlled by Federal Union.
NEED WORLD SUPREME COURT

Mohonk Lake, n. Y, May 1S.-The
world may, with assurance, look for
ward to the time when a peace en-
forced by a central authority will be
as much of an ordinary condition of
life as peace is today an accepted con-
dltion in the life of a city, state or ma
ton. said George Haven Putnam, the
publisher, in an address today before
the Lake Mohonk conference on inter-
national arbitration. He said:
1T is my own belief that interna-
tionai arbitration can be made eff
fective only when the states of the
world have been brought together into
something in the form of a federation;
that it is possible to bring into fed
Grated relations with one another
states which possess varying charac-
tiers, of interests and ambitions, and
which will be left to retain their full
independence of action, is shown by
the organization of the n-American
Union. Under the plan of the or
ganization of the Pan American
Union, the decisions of the council
have back of them for enforcement
the whole power of the states consti-
tuting the union.
"Our own federal union controls the
peace between forty-eight independ-
ent states. Issues arising in these
states, which in the old days of the
thirteen colonies would have devel-
oped into friction and war, are now
adjusted by the decisions of the SUI
preme court, but the decisions carry
authority and the adjustment re-
mains permanent only because back
of the court stands the whole organ
lied power of the nation
No Power Behind Decision.
1.-THE international tribunal at The
Hague had the weakness of presenting
no provision for the enforcement OF
the decisions of the tribunal. In every
civilized state of the world, decisions
are now arrived at in a court. THESE
court decisions would have little value,
however, in maintaining peace IN the
communities unless back OF the au-
thority of the court stood an organ
lied force. The plans outlined by the
League to Enforce Peace make pro-
vision for carrying into effect the de-
ciSions of an international court and
so to speak, for enforcing conclhauon
by means of pressure. first economic,
and then, if necessary, military
brought to bear upon any state or
states which. having accepted mem
bership in the federation. should re
fuse to abide by its decisions Ihe
mere fact that authority has been or
ganized for carrying out economic or
military pressure and the further Iact
that this authority represents no sel1-
iSh interest on the part or any one
state. or group of states, but the inter
ests of the whole federation. which
are the interests of civilization VIII. II
is hoped, constitute a sufficient 1nflu-
ence to render improbable, almost I'M
POSSIBLE the risk of diSobedience to
the authority of the worlds supreme
IA policy of free trade will, in my
Judgment constitute the most lmpor-
tant factor in maintaining peace IN
the worlds federation of states
Debate on Central Power.
The use of military compulsion by
group of nations to prevent war.
which is the most radical feature OF
the plan advocated by the league to
enforce peace, was debated today be-
fore the Lake Mohonk conference on
international arbitration. The propo-
s,ition was favored by Herbert S. Hous-
ton and DR.. George Haven Putnam,
New York publishers, and opposed by
DR.. James L. Tyron, of Boston, direc-
tor of the New England department
of the American Peace society, and
AIpheus H. Snow, a Washington, d.
c., lawyer.
Peace between nations said Mr..
Houston, gust as does peace within
nations. must rest on force. Peace
must be put on a war footing and its
advocates must quit the forum for
the. field -f-
Danger in League Work.
DR.. Tryon's view was that the
United States might wisely cooperate
with other nations to use force for the
preservation of public safety in spe-
cific emergency like the Boxer rebel
lion but be in a position to withdraw
when it considered the purpose suffi-
GENTLY fulfilled.
Mr. Shows conclusion was that the
plan of a. league to enforce peace was
inpracticable and dangerous for many
reasons, chiefly because it proposed tt
use Joint instead of united force an6
provides no executive to determine an6
direct the force.