Evening star., 1919-03-21

and arbitration by agreement for
hasty war, which shall tend to eliml-
nate wars of conquest and which shall
abolish or reduce competitive arma-
mAntS.
Settlement of peace terms with Ger
many under a victors league ought
not to await the discussion and de-
termination of the details of the con-
stitution of the worlds league OF ma
tions. the future Federation or Union
of the World. If the birth-pangs or
the Constitution of the American
Union were protracted ana intense,
much more protracted and agoniZlng
will naturally be the birth-pangs OF
the constitution of the Union OF the
World
Comparative Birthpangs.
The Constitution Of the United
States was born only after months of
travail. Angry wrangling. especially
over questions rof representation and
between the large and small states.
marked by threats of withdrawal
from negotiation, and by reversals OF
decision, chara racterized the debates of
our constitutional convention and of
states. Yet our colonies, homogene-
Gus racially, In language and in con-
ditions of developing environment,
were already merged in confedera-
tion by 9 war won in common, and
had learned from painful experience
the absolute necessity OF a more per-
feet union, II the individual communi-
ties were to avoid bankruptcy and
military impotency to resist a foreign
enemy.
The proposed union of the world
seeks to merge hodge podge of
heterogeneous nations or peoples of
diversified races, languages. inter-
ests, traditions, civilizations and
methods of thought, with no such abb
so1utely compelling necessity to
drive them together. The constitu-
ton Of this world union is not Qike
worked over deliberately and pain
fully by each member of the pro-
posed, aion until after, amendment
genuine, il tardy. agreement to its,
provisions is recorded. The nations
forming this union have not full op-
portunity to compare what they sac
riflce and what they gain under 1t:
they may not delay to study whether
it's constitution is so worded as to
make it war-preventing or war-pro-
voking; whether the apportionment
of representative power under its
covenants is equitable: or whether
once in the world union a nation
may honorably and with impunity
secede.
Apparently assent to the world
constitution is in effect to be COM
PEELED by coercion.
It apparently is to be made an in
tegrai part Of the treaty with Ger
many and is to be accepted by Ger
many Though it brands her for an
indefinite period as an outlaw nation)
as one Of the compulsory terms Of
dictated peace. Europe, Asia and
Africa are coerced into assent to the
covenants of this particular constitu-
ton as an American demand, and as
the price Of bread, of soldiers and of
money from America to fight famine
and bolshevism and to prevent aspos-
sible German comeback. The United
Quitter, if, in response to the alleged
pleadings of Europe. Asia and Africa.
it refuses to accept this particular
constitution precisely as it is framed.
Moreover, it is forced upon the United
States as an integral part of the peace
ate the entire Paris treaty and tech
nically renew the world war.
The strength of union pact is
in exact accord with the sincerity of
the voluntary assent of those who
form it. What binding, enduring
strength will there be in an agree
ment if it is thus wrung under duress
from the unwilling or reluctant?
Many months were required to frame
a constitution acceptable to and ac-
cepted by all the members OF tne
American Union. Th" world consti-
tuition is to fall in the category of
ouick constitutions. made while you
wait Puck would put girdle round
about the earth in forty minutes The
paris conference. with like miracu-
lous speed. would girdle the earth
with the tie that binds all nations in
union.
Somewhere between the two ex=
tremes-at one of which Uncle Sam
I. a "auitter, and mt the other
Axucker'-lfes the point where the
minimum Of sacrifice of national SOW
ereixnty and Of subordination Of the
spirit Of nationality will develop n
n,aximum of effective vvar-preventiOn
and incorporation
On this point our ideal peace league
.houId be erected. To discover and
agree upon this vantage point In to-
Nov,s vital problem.