New-York tribune., 1918-12-09
The League of Nations Mystery

The League of Nations Mystery
The country still lacks any authentic
Interpretation of President Wilson'S plan
for a league of nations. The Senate has
been eagerly discussing the mystery of
Number XIV of the Fourteen Articles.
But no light comes out of the dark
ness.
Two prominent Democratic members
of the Committee on Foreign Relations
have spoken-John Sharp Williams and
James Hamilton Lewis Mr. Williams is
the person on the committee supposed
to be closest to the Presidents conf
dences. He has defined the league as
limited association between the United
States and Great Britain for the pur-
pose of policing the world AS he blunt
ly put it: "The two English-speaking
countries, the United States and Great
Britain, can maintain league of ma
tons, even if France, Belgium, Italy
and other nations refuse to have a part
in it."
Mr.. Lewis has been on many great
occasions the champion in the Senate
of the Administration foreign policies.
He visualizes the league as a concert of
powers, controlled by the vote of the
majority and ready to play politics to
the detriment Of the minority members
He foresees an international directorate
which will set aside our Monroe Doc
trine and compel US to let down the
bars against European colonization in
South America and the entry of Jap
anese and Chinese into the United
States
Says Mr.. Lewis: "My fear is not that
the league will fail Ny fear is founded
on its success- mean that have more
to fear from its success than it's fail
ure." And he added, with that enig-
matte quality for which he has long
been famous: "Our to-morrows are filed
with perils and our to-days with
warning"
The Senate Is trying to discover
whether the President favors a real
league with teeth or league which will
subordinate lnternationalistic dogmas to
the interests Of the big nations control
hing it Mr.. Taft made speech on Fri
day favoring a worldwide association
of equal nations, which will put nation
aiism into the melting pot But on the
same day MIR. Balfour delivered an ad-
dress in which be Eaid: II think that
the league ought to act as a trustee
OF those countries that have not vet
reached the state at which true democ-
racy can be applied Democracy is not
suit OF clothes which can be put on
at any stage Of development"
Here the two counter theories are
fairly contrasted Which is President
Wilson for! Is he for either, both or
compromise between themr
Mr. Field, our Washington CORE
spondent, says that the Senate is almost
unanimously opposed to any interfer-
ence with the Monroe Doctrine by
league of nations, to any international
army or navy, to any permanent world
court or tribunal and to any disarma-
ment plan which permits the minor ma
tions to decide to what strength the
American army and navy shall be I'm
tied. Otherwise, IT is not i1l-disposed
toward the project.
1t is something to have cleared up
the Senate's notions as to the league.
its mission and its limitations. Yet the
Presidents conception of this new in
strument of Observation-Disclosures remains
impenetrable. At Paris the American
doctrine of the league Of natfors "a +o
be drawn out Of mysterious receptacle.
We cannot see it now-even with the
eye of faith. Senate and public must
worry along until the seven seals Of the
casket of wisdom are broken. II we are
wise we shall possess our souls in peace.
For this still is the piquant way Of our
"open' diplomacy.