Evening star., 1916-12-29
SEES GREAT GOOD
IN PEACE LEAGUE
George H. ShibIey, President,
Says 1t Will Guarantee the
Monroe Doctrine.
HCORRECTS FALSE VIEWS

That the League for World Peace VIII
be the most effective guarantee of the
Monroe doctrine. as well as practically
positive insurance against future wars
was the declaration of George II. Shib-
lev, president of the league. Mr.. Shibley
said there is urgent need to correct mis-
understandings prevalent as to the effect
of the proposed federation of world pow
ers in the League for World feace' es-
pecially misapprehensions that have
gained currency in the United States as
to the effect the movement might have
on the interna tional policies of this cour-
try.
Mr.. Shbley has devoted most OF MES
time during the last two years TO de-
velopment of the world pc ce league
movement. Practically his entire life up
to two years ago was spent in work Tor
the development of popular government
and the law. He was associated with
counsel from Oregon in the case before
the Supreme Court of the United states
to test the consttutionality of the oregon
initiative and referendum law.
Speaking of the effect on international
rela tions of participation of the InlteG
States in the leagues activities, MI.
Shibley said:
Policy of United States.
Especially in its relation to the Mon
roe doctrine is there much misunder-
standing of what will be the effect of the
establishment of the federation of the
world Without doubt the United States
will include in her offer to enter the need
ed federation a condition that no Euro
pean state shall increase her territorial
area upon the American continent ex-
cept with her consent. That provision
we can secure owing to the fact that
our cooperation is to be an essential
factor in the formation of the peace or
saniZation. Thus the European countries
will find it. to their advantage to accept
our declared policy, and this policy will
not be arbitra ble-it will be guaranteed.
In this way the Monroe doctrine will
be continued and be acquiesced in more
largely. This doctrine was established
by us with the aid of Great Britain. as
is plainly stated by Thomas jefferson
in his letter to President Monroe; and
this doctrine has been maintained by
us because of the quiet support of
Great Britain. Now we can secure the
consent of all the European powers.
Alternative to World Federation.
THE alternative to the establishment
of the world federation is that the
powers engaged in the present war
shall agree to peace terms that shall
continue competition in armament.
Then Europe would continue as an
armed camp. every possible effort be-
ing made on both sides to excel. and
with them would soon be included the
rest of the world. including our own
United States, followed by more
stupendous war than the present one
With this alternative staring the war
lively refuse to accept peace on these
terms. But as yet the entente allies
are refusing to believe that this is the
case in Prussia.
Prussian ruler. the king and emperor.
put forth a declaration to this effect on
December 8. 1915, through his chancel
lor, Won Bethmann Holleweg. This was
fourteen months after the allies put
forth their demand for the termination
of militarism, and some months after
the Prussans were defeated at the
battle of the Marne. Had the Prus
sian troops broken through at the
Marne they would have captured Paris
and then their ruler would have con-
tinued to look forward to dominating
the world. Competition in armament
and an occasional war would have
taken place until that Prussian domi-
nancy would have been decisively end
ed. But neither at the Marne nor at
Verdun did the Prussian warriors win.
and so why not recognize that the
allies have won? Today the self-n-
terest of both sides in the war is for
the ending of competition in arma-
ment, And because of the sure eStab-
lishment of the reign of mutual agree
ment throughout the world in place of
military power the size of the central
powers is comparatively unimportant.
Besides, there is the fact that our mann
moth United States is to enter the or
sanization. likewise Switzerland, Hol-
land. Denmark. Sweden, Norway, Spain
and all of the twenty-one American
republics"
A Real Federation.
The distinction between this sug-
gested world federation and a league
to enforce peace was pointed out by
Mr.. Shibley. "A world federation can
be so constructed he continued, that
it will put an end to competition in
armament. A single organization OF
nations will mark out the fundamental
rights and duties for all the nations
and do so on the basis of equality.
Thus the small nations as well as the
great will be protected Protection will
come through a provision in the con-
stitution for the establishment of an
international government to administer
the specified rights and duties. Thus
there will be definite agreement as to
the rights and duties-many of them
settled in the peace terms. accompanied
with a mutual guarantee that they will
be observed. There will be no nom