Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-29
ONCE GREETED LEAGUE
IDEA WITH sKEPT|C|sM
But When Danger OF Defeat Loomcd
Large, Germans Seized 1t
With Ayidity.
ERzBERGER's CONSTITUTION
Ccntrist Author Drafted Model Doc
ument, but Endeavorcd to Sand
witch In Plan to Provide for Sup
plying Germany Raw Material.

(By a Diplomatic Correspopdent)
-, LONDON, December 2s.-Up to the
Germans. had thought little about the
league Of nations. If alluded TO. it was
IN inc spirit OF Count Hertling. with
dividnaIs like sin, nrr rbe" GGas9H m i'm n,
me Berlincs Tagcbatt, or Count
Montgelas, might discuss It: otherwise
~ was treated merely az q British trick
Tor camouilaging Il future economic
war.
Norddeutsc:e July Is. 1915 rather
startied Germany by admitting that
me league had become zone OF the grca,
world ideas" also insisted that Britain
was linking the idea of the league with
NE ne idea OF economic war. or, as DR..
iioetzsch put II I'm the kreuzzcitung
august l4). attempting to make 1t -,
noly alliance for the economic Oppres-
sion of Germany" But at the begin
ninE OF September. when defeat could
no longer be hisguiSed Germans sud-
uchiy round salvation. They discovered
lhat the league really did bear on tho
question or economic war though not
oh a British trick: IL would cxclud.
economic war between it's members. IL
was vital for Germany not to have an
economic war. and no way out had ap-
So, reu II britain and America chose.
now way offered. The league forbade
economic war: therefore, Join IN.
nrasne and escape. Britain and America
would he bound by their own DECLARE
ON September ]. two important pro-
nouhcemenis appeared. Count Mont
i IN asc IN ps the third article Of his series
Germany should cndcavor TO ioin TIE
league Of nations: otherwise tho dread
ed economic boycott might become a
reality.
On the same day Herr strcsemann
spoke at lsostock Stresamann is leader
or the National Liberal party. his
so.ricaliy Bismarck's support in his wars
on conquest, and I'm this war Il whole
hearted war party. AT a party meet
ing on September %, 1917, il had re-
oected the Reichstas resolution Of July
-, ana demanded an extension OF
bower both east and west and in
IDENTITIES Now StrcSemann gave his
party lead II was to follow by de-
clarinS that economic war and the
league or nations could not 40 to-
gcthcr.
ERZBERGER EVEN DRAFTS
4 MODEL. CONSTITUTION
Soon there followed an even more
important announcement, from n
member of the government. Prince
max had talked about the league Of
That was left for Herr Erzberyer. au-
thor or the Reichstag resolution, and
,o.aay a secretary Of State. ErzberEor
look up the two theses to which refer
chce has here been inade-thc political
league. which forbids economic war
.n."onS us members, and Internal ionaI
dlstriDution and guarantccs-and com
bincd the two into Il new set OF pro
poSals. His draft of constitution for
q league Of nations Sas given in ful,
from his book by the lingo Vossische
Ieitnng on September 81. The economic
Clauses declare that members OF tho
league shall mutually grant one an
othcr economic equality of right in all
territories under their sovereignty, and
UNIVERSAL and reciprocal most favoreJ-
nation treatment; but the important
ming Is clause %. which provides that
1cr ten years the surplus products
winch each league state possesses shall
De divided between the other league