New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Knor Urges
Alliance, Not
World League
Continued from page /

before July, 1914, it is, in my judgment
vcrv improbable that the war would
have occurred.
Policy Stood Test
"When at length the United States
had perceived and had acted upon this
policy with mighty effect, the war en-
tered on it's last and victorious phase.
America has now perceived and mani
tested it's perception of the principle
of this policy. 1t has put this policy
to successful test. Avowed by public
official declaration, it might prove
worthy, l believe. to serve with the
Monroe Doctrine, as fundamental
doctrine Of American diplomacy. 1t
cntangles us in no way, but it makes
us the potential ally of the defenders
of liberty whenever great menace
shall arise.
"The Monroe Doctrine, with virtual
European sanction, and especially with
British sanction, serves its purposes
we'll. 1t would, l think, be sure of
British support if it were menaced. But
the Monroe Dostrine leaves to the
United States the mandate that it car
ries, and it IS for the United States
to do what need be done to maintain
safe conditions within and as between
the republics of this hemisphere, in
connection with our predominant in
terest in their external durability, as
against an aggressive power from
without
Limit to Obligation
There is a certain analogy between
"a ha 70
the doctrine now suggested, as it would
touch the question of our obligation
IN the matter of new states now being
raised up in Europe. The corollary
would be that, if such new states were
menaced as part of a general European
danger, then the United States would
be concerned; but that what need be
done to maintain safe conditions with
IN or as between them would be pri-
marily an European concern and an Eu-
ropean obligation, in the discharge Of
which we need take no part. And this
IS as 1T should be. There is no need
that American troops should travel
thousands of miles for any other pur-
pose than to ward off menace to vital
American interests.
III league Of nations may not be
a good thing, certainly the agitated
DAYS Iol owing a great war should not
With a policy it has not examined and
which is no necessary part of the MAX
ing of peace
Il, Tor one, am entirely ignorant of
what the President means by league
OF nations. The American people do
not know. Our judgments must to-day
be hypothetical. Conceptions of a
league OF nations range from a sort
OF world republic to a mere entente for
certain purposes of the United States
and our chief rllies-something that
need not necessarily cause alarm.
Build Upon Experience
! "Somo people speak of an interna-
tional order founded upon justice and
GOOD faith as necessarily the antithesis
of an international order founded upon
power. The victorious Allies have in
this war placed invincible power at the
service OF justice and good faith. We
have seen the glorious result Where
would justice and good faith and cvili-
zaticn be to-day if those powers had
not leagued together to vindcate
them? Are justice and good faith sc
sure to prevail in a heterogeneous, ex-
perimental league Of a!f nations
hastily created, now that we are ready
to surrender our national conscience tc
such league? Can we create q league
ideals than the one called into exist
ence by the German attack? Wise
policy, as opposed to shallow empri-
clsm would seem to counsel us to
solidify and build upon what we have
tried rather than to plunge headlong
into universal experiment.
Present League Efficient
Nor can we nurse every backward
nation. The most we can do is to strive
to give favorable opportunity TO evolu-
ton. 1t may be that we shall have to
guard against letting the phrase self
away with US. Is the phrase always
sure to possess an absolute merit that
it lacked, for example, in America in
the Sixties?
I'VE have now passed from a danger
Gus balance of power to beneficent
preponderance of power in the hands
of the proved trustees of civilization
The English-s speaking people and our
principal Allies formed real league
and they have enforced peace and saved
civilization. This league we have
stands ready to enforce the conditions
Of peace.
at may be doubtful whether we
need any international courts in addi
ton to the rusting machinery Of The
Hague tribunal 1t may be doubtful
whether we desire more Comprehensive
arbitration treaties than those nego-
tiated with Great Britain and France
in 1912. The text Of that treaty shows
a way in which great powers nigh t
safeguard their mutual peaca in case
of any mutual dispute.
Universal League Unwise
"For the rest, an entente Of those
powers, with their preponderant power
on sea, in air and in the economic field,
can stand ready in their wise discre-
ton, to take measures together, when
they believe it their duty to do so. if
the peace Of tha work, is seriously
! threatened from anv other quarter.
"a universal league of nations, which
should be the arbiter Of tbs interna-
tional rights of each nation, ir it we're
democratic-tha is, based or world ma
jority rule according to popuIations-
or if it were based upon formula
taking both sovercgnties and popula-
tions into account, would have the pow
er to impose upon the peoples most ad-
vanced in honor justice, truth. enlieht-
eminent and humanity-that is. in civ