The sun., 1918-12-22

OF Nations are captivating and at
tractivA Everybody would like to
bring about n world condition in
which wars would be impossible. We
are all lovers Of peace; we all are
equally DESTROYS to prevent the re-
currence Of wars.
Must Avoid Dissensions.
We all are deeply in sympathy with
the purposes which the words League
OF Nations are supposed to imply.
But We ought to be extremely careful
that In our efforts to reach the millen-
mum OF universal and eternal peace
We do not create a system which will
breed dissensions and wars"
Senator Lodge asserted that there
ought TO be a precise definition of a
league OF nations. People ought &c
know what they are expected to agree
TO, he contended, and In this connec-
ton he pointed out some Of the din
culties that would attend the forma-
ton OF the league.
What nations are TO be members
Of the lcaeue?" he asked. rs Ger.
many to be one OF the members? II
so, when? How are these nations thu,
Joined in a league to vote In determin-
ing the operations OF the league
Theoretically. In international law
every Independent sovereign nation 4.
the equal OF any other nation. Are the
small nations to have an equal vote
with the great nations in a league, q
vote equal to that OF the United state.
or England or France1
Cites Some Objections.
IF nations are to vote in the league
on q democratic basis. then their vot.
ing power must be determined by pop.
uhtion. Here. too. Some curious pos.
sibilities arise, not without a certain
intricacy. The population Of China Is
| roughly, four times that OF the United
| States, and this system would Civ,
China four times the vote of the Cnitet
States in the league. II England is L
have the right TO cast the vote Of hel
possessions, India alone would give hei
from three to four times as many vote,
as the United States and ten times tn,
vote Of France. This system SEEM
open to some objections at first glance
and they are objections which will
have to be considered"
Senator Lodge asked what were 4
be the questions that would proper,,
come before the league for settlement
and put to the Senate questions in re
gard TO. for instance. the Virgin Isl
ands and Aagdalena Bay.
He said It would be necessary to cs
tablish a world court to adjudicat,
such questions as would come befor,
the league.
Suppose now that the court is Is
tablished with q police force behint
It" he said Il have seen II proposeS
that any nation refusing to obey tbi
courts DEGREES shall be compelled I,
do 50 by the international police force
Just as the DEGREES OF our own court
are carried out by a police force.
Who IL 10 Order Armyf
Let US dispense with metaphors
An international police force is an in
ternational army and navy. Who is I,
order that army and navy into &C
ton and who Is to command It whei
II Is in action? Are We prepared 4
allow any association of nations by {
majority vote to order the troops ant
the ships OF the United States to q
to war? Unless We are prepared q
do 30 we are not prepared to join
league of nations which Is going q
enforce peace, and We should neve
put our name as a nation to an.
treaty or agreement which We are no
ready TO carry out both in letter ant
spirit.
"Let us be honest with ourselves.
is easy TO talk about a league OF ma
tons and the beauty and the necessit,
OF peace, but the hard, practical de
mand Is; Are you ready to put you
soldiers and your sailors at the dis
position OF other nationsT II 70
are not, there win be no power Of en-
forcing the DEGREES OF the internations
court or the international legislator
or the international executive Q
whatever may be established.
This Il the heart Of the Who'll
question. but there are others whic
would necessarily have to be consid
cred. Are we ready to abandon tn
Monroe Doctrine and to leave ii I
other nations 10 say how America
questions shall be settled and whs
; steps we shall be permitted TO take i
order to guard our own safety or
, protect the Panama Canal? Are "
ready to have other nations tell us b
a majority vote what attitude We mus
assume in regard TO immigration or
regard to our tariffs?"
, Summing up his objection to all Nv
OF the Presidents points. Senate
Lodge said:
~ have merely glanced At these out
wing questions my purpose bein