The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-09

Balance OF power differs from Il
world federation, or world republic, in
that its power is negative. and not
positive. 1t tells each nation what it
shall not do, not what 1t snail do. II
does not order nation to be de-
mocracy. 1t tells it what it shall iio:
do even If 1t is a democracy. 1t does
not order it to pay taxes. 1t tells it
what 1t shall not do with the taxes
paid. Ii does not order a nation to
bring on an army or navy to enforce
"a law. 1t tells the nation not to have
an army or navy.
The thing that we want nations not
to do Is to appropriate money for war
purposes. We want universal anti
preparedness. This is disarmament
that is, limitation OF ornaments. And
this is the amount of money each ma
ton shall appropriate for war power.
When these nations get together To
stop this war ana settle the terms of
peace. they should. after disposing of
existing ornaments, set a limit on the
amount of money that each one shall
appropriate or spend for war pur-
poses. This means future limitation
OF ornaments.
be sure that each nation will limit it,
self to the amount allowed And we
know that conditions will change so
that the next year, or the year after,
or years ahead, different limits will
have TO be set We know, too. that
when the nations once separate after
terms of peace are settled each ma
ton can so ahead as it pleascs and no
4 llN.l
others frame up an alliance.
So, before these nations separate,
they should stipulatc. as one of the
terms of peace. that they shall all
| meet again once each year. and shall
I each year agree on, the new limits of
money for that year which each shall
+! be allowed to appropriate or spend for
| war purposes.
| When they meet each year they
! should meet for this purpose alone.
| They may discuss anything they want
To INSTRUMENTATION civil war neil
| tralits, international law. anything.
I But they shall act on only one thing
| the limitation of money To be appro-
J priated by each for military purposes.
/ They can frame up any combinations
or alliances they please across the ia
/ bile.
This vote is not u vote. /, is an
| unanimous agreement. No nation is
| compelled To attend not to agree. Ii
can protest but still agree. Ii can
withdraw il ii does not agree, Two or
more can form an alliance and with
| draw together. But, il any nation does
| not attend or does withdraw, il gives
notice OF just one thing: it intends to
exceed the limits set by the others on
the amount of money il is going TO
spend for war purposes.
| And this is not a declaration of war.
1t is just a timely notice that It in
tends TO declare war, or to force the
/ others TO declare it. 1t gives the 9TH
ers plenty of time to declare war on
il before it can get ready.
| The others can decide what to do AT
least a year, and indeed several years.
before the offending nation and it's al
| lies, il il has any, can build ships and
guns, get explosives or anything In SUI
ficient quantities for modern warfare.
| The others may decide to squeeze in-
stead Of fight. They may bear down
lor shut down ON the money market;
they may SET up discriminatory tariffs;
they may start all kinds Of boycotts;
they may, as President Wilson sug-
lgcsts. close tho seas against the Of
lfcnding nation; thousand and oae