The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-30
The League to Enforce Penc1--
1t Had a Predecessor
From the Spectator. London, Emo

DeT ~ 'hfittiN tfoh Nh'
which the world forgets its past and all
the lessons OF history when its emotions
are moved, and when there is something
which IL longs for greatly. Take the case
or peace and the attempts to devise some
scheme for a~bolishiug war. Men see the
horror and the wickedness OF war, ana
recognize also its folly and futiity. Az
once they set to work d~evising schemes
Tor making, as they say, fresh wars I'M
possible. But they forget that during al
most every great war Of which we rave q
record similar schemes were drawn up TO
lay the foundations OF a lasting concord
and to prevent future appeals to arms; IN
fact, to enforce peace. Yet these previ-
Gus efforts, though they were quite as
carefully thought out and quite as sincere
ly entertained as are the new efforts,
failed entirely.
A league to enforce peace was estab-
ished in America some Is months ago.
It's aims and efforts we're described by MIR.
Taft In the American number OF the
Manchester Guardian, noticed by MS last
week. Mr.. Taft sets forth the four objects
OF the League to Enforce Peace. and the
methods by which the league seeks to at
tain them. The objects themselves are
excellent, but the methods for attaining
them are, We venture to say, either quite
futile or else positively dangerous. How
~f $50 " VAL ~
with Mr.. Taft on general grounds, for we
should not convince him or his friends,
and We might very likely give an i'm
preston. which Is the last we desire to
give, that we are careless OF the interests
or peace, or do not realize the vast evils
or war. What we desire to point out ~
that the proposals OF the League to En-
force Peace were tried 100 years q with
the most unsatisfactory results. No doubt
we shall he told-Even II this be so, why
not try again? TT Is worth while to
break a thousand lances In an effort to
free the world from the demon OF war
We agree, and however hopeless we
thought the task OF enforcing peace. we
should say to the league: "Do your best
with Gods blessing II we were not
firmly convinced that not merely must the
efforts Of the leaguers fail, but that their
attempts to attain the impossible will do
positive harm to the cause of peace. If
only the leaguers can be persuaded to try
for much less than their present program,
and to try for II in a different way. they
may attain a much greater practical sue
cess.
TIL grounds on which we rest our con-
tention that there is nothing TO be got out
or the League TO Enforce Peace are set
forth In a book OF true historical learning
and insight by Mr.. Alison Phillips. 1.-The
Confederation of Europe" published by
/ NtSSSTS. IOHBfnHHS IN 1917. Inc SuD-tlIie VI
the volume, "A Study of the European Al
lance, 1S13-1S23, as an Experiment in the
International Organization of Peace"
shows the nature OF the worlc-a work
which, we may add, was founded on lee
lures delivered In oxford in 1918, and
therefore before the war. For present
purposes one OF tho most important things
that Mr.. Alison Phillips shows us Is that
before the great French war was half
way through statesmen here and else
where had, as now, begun 10 consider, not
merely how to bring the war to a sue
cessful issue. but how to insure peace for
the future. They saw, an now. that they
were really fighting to secure peace. But
what was the Use OF securing peace unless
that peace could he made permanent?
Therefore we find not only men OF n vi
slonary character like Alexander I OF Rus
sia, but practical statesmen Of nodera-
ton and sound common sense like William
Fit, throwing themselves enthusia stically
into the plan OF a League to Enforce
peace. In answer TO the very striking. II
somewhat vague, instructions given by
Alexander in 1904, which We're laid before
Pitt, the great English statesman de-
clared that the concert or third coalition
FOR carrying on the war against France
which Pitt was then constructing should
rave as one OF its three essential objects
the establishment Of "a convention and
guarantee for the mutual protection and
security OF the different powers. and the
establishment in Europe OF a general sys-
tenn OF public law" Pitts remarks on the
third proposal were as follows:
Much he says. will have been
done for the repose OF Europe by
the carrying out or the proposed
l territorial Heterogeneous. but in
feet as pOssible. II seems necessary that
at the time. OF the general racihcatlon 9
treaty should be concluded. in which all
the principal European powers should take
part, by which their possessions and their
respective rights. az then established,
should be fixed and RECOGNIZED. and these
protect and support. each other arainst
all attempts to violate II. This treaty
would give to Europe a general system Of
l public law, and would tim at rnDressInS
as far az possible. future atterrts tn
trouble the general tranquility. and above
| all to defeat every project of aPgrandivr-
| have produced all the d's"sto~s by which
| Furone has hcen ssfHic+ed since the uu-
| happv era OF the Wrench revolution. Tive
first 'separate and secret article NJ the
| treaty Of April II. 1905. between Russia
and Great Pritain embodied these views IN
= formal e~rgagament. Their mataeties."
II ran, who take tho most Jivnlv Interest
IN the discussion and precise definition ~
the law or nations and IN the guarantee ~
It's observance nv general consent and hy
the eFtahlishme-t IN Turo~a Of n fedora
liNP FNS'PTU. IN l'RlFP I'P nIpTAnnpOTp or
the weaFer stateT nv e~rn"tire n fornids bIe
barrier against the ambition ~ the more
powerful. win como To M arnicabIh under
standing amono theroSelves 20 to vvrnt-
ever ma" concern thnsn ohiarts. and will
forrn on irtimate nn'or f0~ The purDose ~
rPa'7'n~ their hapnv e'Fects'"
Though Pitt did not live to see the at
tempt to carry out the third clause OF the
coalition. it's spirit was kent alive by
Alexander, and we find that the preamble
OF the treaty OF Kalisch made between
A~mputation Now In Disfsvor.