The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-05-01

zation is not pacifist in nature; tina
4 it doesn't plan to step in and sto]
the present war, but that it doe
hope, after this great war is ended
''and before this war is finished, there
will be no neutrals,' said the speaker
to enlist all of the world powers
in a great federation Of states-s
United States on a worldwide basis
which will throw its weight against
useless, unjust wars; which will
through force, if necessary, prevent
aggression from the strong upon the
weak, and which will insist that all
justiciable questions arising between
nations be subjected to an interna.
tional tribunal. z
How It Was Born.
The League to Enforce Peace was
born in independence hall, Philadel.
Ehia, June II, 1915, after a number
of preliminary conferences in which
Americas foremost statesmen, poll.
tical economists and philosophers had
participated. No effort had been made
to work out a constitution, but there
were submitted for consideration and
adoption four general proposals, as
follows: ...-......
First: All justiciable questions
arising between the signatory powers,
not settled by negotiation, shall sub.
ject to the limitations of treaties, be
submitted to judicial tribunal for
hearing and judgment, both upon the
TO N
jurisdiction OF the question.
Second: All other questions arts.
ing between the signatories and not
settled by negotiation, shall be sub
mitted to council of Cancellation for
hearing, consideration and rccommen.
dalton.
Third: The signatory powers shall
jointly use forthwith both their eco.
nomic and military forces against any
one of their number that goes to war
or commits acts of hostility against
another of the signatories before any
question arising shall be submitted
as provided. "A. s.5
= Fourth: Conferences between the
signatory powers shall be held from
time to time to formulate and codify
rules of international law, which, un.
less some signatory shall signify its
dissent within stated period, shall
thereafter govern in the decisions OF
theu judicial tribunal mentioned in ar
ticle one.
Idea Not New
Such a league of nations, Mr.. Holt
noted, is not new. 1t dates back to
the earliest stages Of civilization. 1t
has been feebly attempted in one form
or another in every great epoch In
the worlds development. But until
the dawn of American independence
and the confederation Of the thirteen
colonies, such leagues had been for
the prosecution of war or the advance.
ment of selfish ends rather than the
enforcement of permanent peace be-
tween states. .., ....
TO - accomplish that which the
league has uset out to do there must,
declared tMr. Holt be an extension
of democracy, Only in a democracy,
such as America or Great Britain, he
said, could SUCH project be con.
ceived, and only through the spread
of democratic principles may the
world be expected to Join in, its adop,,
tion. ~. T.. (. $.-re.g.E a ,.-"'
5 Objections Disposed OF. =. Z.
He discussed and disposed OF the
principal objections to the League to
Enforce Peace-first, that OF William
Jennings Bryan, that the plan Of oper-
alton is unconstitutional that only
the senate and the house of the Uni.
ted States have a right to declare
war; that no foreign nation can die
tate our entrance into any war. Ham
ilton Holt acknowledges that only the
congress of these United States has
constitutional power to declare war,
and declares the League to Enforce
Peace would in no degree seek to
usurp this power. The league merely
would insist that before congress de-.
clares war the questions at issue be
submitted to the international council
for negotiation and Cancellation. Then,
if congress feels the verdict Of that
body is just there need be no war;
il 1t takes exceptions, it may still
make war, but without the support
of the league.
What Washington Would DO.
Then there are those who quote
from the last speech Of George Wash
ington, his advice against entangling
alliances. There are people," said
Mr.. Holt, "who pretend to know just