New Britain herald., 1918-10-07
PRINCIPLES FOR A
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Dr. Julius Rupert Writes on Up-
 to-Date Subject


 of nations. pr. Rupert sees many obstacles in the way of accomplishing the end, most of them being the con- ditions that exist in European coun- tries. pr. Rupert advances his theory of democratic principles that should be accepted by all nations. In a let ter to the New York Sun Dr. Hupcrt writes as follows.
 To the Editor of The Sun:-Sir: The project of a league of nations is fathered by great mon, such as Presi- dent Wilson, Viscount Grey, Lord Bryce and other well known states men. Being the expression of lofty idealism, it has met in democratic countries with widespread and hearty acceptance. The purposes and aims would be:
 First, to prevent war, theatening to ruin civilization by the immensity of it's horrors and waste on account of the rapid perfection of all instruments of warfare, and to abolish destruction of life and national wealth.;
 Secondly, to settle international dis putes by a tribunal of arbitration and board of conciliation in accord with  made by the collective efforts of all partners of the league;
 Thirdly, to effect a universal, real military and naval disarma- ment to curb burdensome expenses for costly future armaments and by such disarmament to enable all nations to pay off their national debts;
 Fourthly, to create @ friendly inter- national cooperation in all labors directed to raise the economical, social and political standards of all units of the league. The 'unselfish aims of such union are so ideal that many doubt that such a league is possible.
 The difficulties ahead are great The experience of mankind and history teaches us that heretofore all disputes between nations have ultimately been settled by the force of arms, that peace has followed every war and war has followed peace. Nobody can deny it. Human nature has not lost it's ferocity, but rather increased it, if we judge by the terrible cruelties perpetrated in this war. The passion for national unity and independence is the supreme instinct and the supreme right of all free and oppress- ed nations, and use of force and war is accepted as the last resort to defend or get national freedom and rights as it is done now. No nation can or will renounce that supreme right.
 Apparently the obstacles are colos- sal, but the benefits of a real union of nations would be so immense that league of nations may be formed if the following preliminary essential conditions Of a league are established as the result of this world war:
 1. German nilitarism, the real and great obstacle of a union of nations must be broken by a crushing defeat of the German armies
 2. All oppressed European nations and all non-Turl1ish races in the Otto- man Empire must be free and inde~ pendent nations. The condition de- mand the diSmemberment of Austria and Turkey.
 3. All states must have constitutions based on really democratic principles It is not question of constitutional monarchy or republic. That decision may be taken by the respective na- tions. But the acceptance of demo- cratic principles by all present inde- pendent nations and all nations to be reconstructed and freed by the war must be one of the principal terms of peace. To regard it, as heretofore, as an internal affair of each state is not right, because on the real democ- racy of the respective states depends the peace of the world. By making the acceptance of democratic princi- pleS obligatory for all nations no one shall have reason to object.
 Don't we know that in many coun- tries, on account of privileged classes the demo ocratizatiOn of the govern ment would be slow or impossible without outside pressure from the existing democracies? That is the only way to make "the world safe for democracy" The world is not yet democratic, so autocracies must be replaced by democracies by the terms Of the coming peace.
 The democratic principles to be ac- cepted by all nations should be:
 Firstauniversal, equal secret ballot is given all men in every country.
 Secondly, woman suffrage is con- ceded
 Thirdly, parliamentary representa- tton is to be based on the number of votes, of districts.
 Fourthly, parliamentary responsible ity of ministry will be enforced.
 Fifthly, the declaration of war and making of peace is to be the right of the parliaments by four-f -fifths of the number of members.
 SiXthly, the right to veto the decla- ration of war is conceded to the in ternational tribunal at The Hague. All are to accept the judgment of the in ternational court Tn exceptional cases the tribunal at The Hague may re- commend a reconsideration of the declaration of war by newly elected parliaments of the nations involved promising non-interference That would make a local war thcoroticaIlv