Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-12

0E441ND rONhA
to do ulpre particularly with when the league shsuld be
Hormed and what nations should DO included.
Before the wisconsin state convention called to dis
cuss this problem. President Van Isiss OF the wisconsin
university made an address yesterday in which he-start-
ed out with the, proposition that, the :league. must be
created as an integral part Of the terms Of peace
Now he says. when the nationssare acting together
in all that relates to the prosecutionAo Of the war andathe
terms Of peace is the time that they are most likely to
agree upon obligations to prevent the recurrence Of
wars"
Adopting the commonly accepted division Of the
Justiciable and non-justiciable issues and the methods
heretofore proposed for dealing with, them--namely, q
regularly constituted court for the former and q disin-
terested special commission for the lateter, a majority
of the members in each case to render the decision-he
dissents from the proposition that all the members Of
the league should. bind themselves to support the att
tackled state with their armies and navies. He proposes,
rather, that any nation be free to support the attacked
state with its army and navy and that all members be
bound by agreement merely to boycott the offending ma
ton economically. His theory is that having no trade
or communication with, and being treated al an out
law among, the free peoples of this world would deter
any nation from restoring to war contrary to the re-
concentrations which had been made in its case.
With regard to differences between states members
Of the league and states not members Of the league, he
would apply the same procedure as in differences be-
tween MEMBERS of the league. leaving nations Of the
league free to support their ally with arms and navies
and economic boycott If so disposed.
AS to states entirely outside of the league he would
go no further than to propose good Offices for settlement.
believing it to be inevitable that the state attacked con-
trary to recommendation would have at least the moral
support of the nations of the league and would rely up
on the principle that no war has ever illustrated, the
mighty power of moral support as has this war, just
being finished.
With, regard to ornaments, his belief is that they
should be apportioned according to the military strength
of the members of the league at the time the league is
1organized, and claims the support OF the British premier
for his plan. .
~ President Van Hise is not, however, in favor Of in
Guiding in this organization at the outset too many
members. His idea is that it should consist first of the
free nations which have borne the larger part Of the
burden Of this war, namely, France, England, Italy.
Japan and the United States. Having an equal repre-
sentation, these nations acting together would consti-
tute a substantial guarantee of peace. He would not adj
init the German people until they have shown them
selves to be a free people and have abandoned the evil
doctrine Of might and are ready to support the existence
of a moral order in the world. 1t: is not his idea, how
ever, that the Central Powers should be permanently
excluded. To do so might make them the nucleus for
another league which might become a rival and by that
rivalry Qe1eat the very 1Qea Tor winch a league to en-
force peace was formed.
Upon Germany he would impose full penalties for
crimes committed, but when peace comes the sanctity
lof international law must be re-established. Justice
must be done to small nations which have been outraged
contrary to law and every German must be convinced Of
the fact that violations of international law carry their
memorable penalties. %-a@~ S.. ; -. .s.=z
President Van Hise contends that a league of free
nations to be permanent and grow in influence must
have something to do. The permanent council or court
which it establishes must deal with such problems as the
status of the Dardenelles, the German colonies. the ere
alton Of new states and the rendering Of assistance to
them until they have learned the art of walking alone,
just as the United States served as a big brother to the
Republic of Cuba.
In such a league the United States may be properly
expected to play a large part. While we have during a
century of isolation acrupulously avoided anything like
what has been described as an "entanging alliance" in
entering a league of peace we shall become involved in
lno entangling alliance by which one nation might be
favored at the expense Of another, which is the usual
effect Of alliances, but in an open acknowledged asso-
fciation with all nations seeking to contribute TO the
preservation Of peace, we shall have entered into a cove
nant peculiarly calculated to obviate all entangling al
liances- Whatever propriety there may have been In
the past in our policy of isolation, the power to maintain
it has gone. We cannot retire behind the broad ex-
developments either in the East or the West Confront
ed with the necessity o. playing a part in international
affairs it will become our duty as = nation to bear our
part Of the burden Of preserving the peace of the world.
With practically all of President Van Hise's pro-
lposals We are inclined to agree. except the provision with
regard to the support Of an attacked state /by otner
members of the league. 1t seems to US that it world
be a serious weakness II all the other members Of the
league were not bound to defend a msmbe, attacked by
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