The sun., 1918-12-31
Is World Federation Really in Mr..
wilson's Mind?

The first definite statement in pub
lie by President WILSON concerning
his conception of q League of Ma
tons" came from him yesterday in a
speech addressed, not to the Ameri-
can Congress or the American people,
but to the populace Of Manchester,
England. He said among other things
less pertinent to the main issue:
I'VE will join no combination of Pow
ers which Is not combination of all
Of us We are not interested in the
peace of Europe but in the peace Of
the world
That is to say, If the words that
cut as deep as swords mean anything
at all, the phrase League of Ma
tionS' signifies immediate world fed
Grafton for the preservation Of peace !;
not merely such a continued associa-
ton of the great Powers which have
won the war as is deemed adequate
security. for present purposes at least,
by Senator LODGE, Senator KNOX and
ex-President TAFT, the president Of
the League to Enforce Peace. Mr..
TAFT said yesterday in the Public
Ledger OF Philadelphia
What should be emphasized, how
ever, and what Senator LopGE brings
out with a force OF argument that can
not be met, is the fact that we now
have n league of great nations-the
United States. England, France and
Italy-whose obligations in respect 10
the securing OF the results of war in
Europe are equal. They are debating
this peace. The treaty will not enforce
itself We can only achieve
these results by continuance of this
league OF great Powers. OF this Sena-
tor LoDoE's great address is demon
stration."
On the other hand, speaking neces-
sarily for himself only and without
authorization either by the lcglsla-
tive department Of the United States
Govei nment or by the American peo-
pie collectively, President WILSON
now tells Manchester and the world
that I'VE" shall Join no combination
of Powers short Of combination of
all; that his scheme for n League
of Nations contemplates some sort of
universal system of supernatural
control.
The idea may be rhetorlcally at
tractlve to the Presidents far leap
ing mind, the conception may seem
to him glorious and broadly logical,
but to test its practical qualities we
have only to picture it In actual op-
Grafton. We have only TO imagine the
international police sent forth in ar
NOR, not to enforce peace between
States like Bulgaria and Rumanla, or
to quell a disturbance on the from
tiers of Siam, but ordered by a ma
jority vote of the leagues member
ship to restrain the British Govern
ment from the exercise of It's might
in any part of the world, or to apply
coercive measures TO France or Italy
or Japan when their national inter
ests are involved; or oven, let us say,
to stay the independent action of the
United States in the settlement of
questions primarily concerning this
republic under the Monroe Doctrine
or otherwise.
The surrender of any part Of this
nations sovereignty is impossible
without the amendment of our Con
stltution by the regular process, The
people of the United States" cannot
speak through President WILSON re-
gardlng such a fundamental change,
whatever he may promise or declare
Mt Manchester or at Versailles. The
President and the Senate together
cannot do it by treaty. The Con
cress cannot do it even under the gen
cral welfare clause; for that Consti-
tuition was ordained and established
by the People Of the United States TO
establish Justice, to insure tranquil