Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-24
NOT TO STOP THE WAR

The League to Enforce Peace, it cannot be too clear
~ understood. is not a "stop-the-war' society. Its
program is based upon these assumptions:
The war is a method Of settling international diff
nculties which is to be avoided whenever it can be avoid
cd consistently with the protection of human rights and
the performance of national duties.
That at the end of the present war the nations of
the world. will be in the mood to consider plans for the
avoidance Of other wars, and will feel the need for such
action.
That in order to afford reasonable assurance Of
peace there are necessary, first, agreement among the
nations to submit their differences to some method OF
peaceful adjudication; second, that nations violating such
agreements must be disciplined by the physical and eco
nomic force of all the other nations.
Based on these premises. the proposal of the league
ls that at the close of this war there shall be formed
q league of nations whose menbers shall agree:
To submit all their differences which are OF such
a character as to come within the scope of international
law to a board of arbitration.
To submit all other differences to a board of con-
citation for investigation and recommendation;
And to use. with the other nations, all their physical
and economic forces against any nation which shall re-
fuse to carry out the spirit Of such agreement
This plan is in substance the application to nations
of the methods which have been employed in civilized
communities for the preservation Of the peace among
individuals. Every individual has the right to resist at
tack. But he has not the right to use for the redress
of injuries which he claims to have suffered. He must
submit his case to the courts. If judgment is in his favor
his adversary is ordered to make restitution or to pay
damages. II he refuses the sheriff seizes his person or
attaches his property. If he resists the sheriff summons
assistance from members of the community. If the or
der of the court cannot be enforced in this way the mill
tary forces of the entire nation may be drawn upon.
1t is the fac: that this force is available that makes
the decisions of the courts effective. An order by a JUS
uce OF the peace that Smith shall deliver to Jones a two
dollar wheelharrow, the ownership Of which has been
in dispute is a Anall matter. But in that order Is in
volved the entire machinery of the government of a great
nation. Behind that order is the entire force of our
hundred million people. To enforce that order. if need
be, every man in the country may be drafted into mill
tary service, and every dollars worth of property in the
country may be used. There are no limits. And because
there is behind the order that almost unlimited power,
the order is not disputed. There is no war. There is no
riot Smith delivers the wheelbarrow because he knows
that he must.
1t Is not contended that any method which may be
adopted will put an end to all violence among nations.
our local laws do not prevent occasional fights among
individuals. But the laws which we have for the govern
nenf OF individuals have made it possible for men and
women to go abroad unarmed and in safety; to possess
their own property in peace; to be secure within their
own homes without fortresses and barricades. And the
eject of the adoption Of the program Of the League to
ENFORCE Peace will be to make any nation hesitate be-
fore taking action which will Immediately bring it into
q state Of war with the whole world.