Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-07-11
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Will It Assure Permanent Peace Will 1t Tend to War?
Analysis of the Covenant by Articles Pres
ented by Republican Publicity
Association.

the voting strength of the power
that made them. Other nations, that
depend for the maintenance of their
independent sovereignty on the Ameri-
can Monroe Doctrine, are given eouaI
voting power in the league assembly
with the great people who protect
them. Haiti, Salvador. Nicaraoua
Guatemala and Honduras are cases
in point. Is the United States likely
to submit tamely when, perchance
whose little Central American repub
lies raise question inimical to the
welfare OF our country, and proceed
to outvote US five to one?
Article 5 stipulates that decisions
at any meeting of the assembly or of
the council shall require the agree
ment of all the members of the leal
rue represented at the meeting" Ger
tain exceptions of minor Importance
are made to that rule, but it holds
good in the settlement of all questions
of great moment. The complica-
tions that are sure to arise from the
application of this regulation are end
ess, each of them certain to produce
international tension that will lead
" Wal II IbS SGIICI 0HlOIC0IIlGIlI is
insisted upon by the league members
and as such could ecectually veto any
many is soon to be a member,
policy that we might formula ate to-
ward Mexico Inasmuch as the
Germans were activs in fomenting
an anti--lmerican attitude in Mexico
during the war, it is not difficult to
forsee her policy when she is in the
league Our interference in Cuba
to save that country from Spanish
oppression could and would have
been prevented had the league been
in operation in 1898. One nation re-
gistering its objection to our Cuban
policy would have necessitaed its can
collation. and the horrors of Spanish
rule in the island would havecontinu-
ed. In short every state in the lea
que. big or little, has the power with
in itself to invalidate the actions of
all the others combined. The moment
that arrogant authority. granted by
the league covenant itse f, is sought
be exercised war will follow unless
this great Republic of the United
States and the people of the world
are to be directed by lot of unstable
nations, large or small. in problems
which they do not understand and are
not capable of saying.
Article provides for the appoint
ment of the first secretary general
of the league and authorizes him to
appoint the secretaries and al other
members of the league staff. That
official has already been named. He
is an Englishman of note and doubt
less a very worthy and able gentle
man-but an Englishman, with al
that the word implies. Ii there is
ne trait that distinguishes British
citizen above all others it is loyalty
= king and country. Everything is
subordinatad to service of the Empire
Every incident in English history Is
separate Incentive to the Britishe1
to think of his country first, last an(
II the tine Tha Secretary of tht
! league, with his absolute power 4
appoint subordinates, will see to i
that the personnel, if not compose:
entirely of Engiishmen like himself
are completely amendab.e to his die
tation How will Americans lik'
! that situation. and are they likely t.
accept it with submissive acquiescenc'
| Would we not feel a little resentfu
if every official in our own Senat
and House of Representatives was a.
Englishman? Yet in this super
government, clothed with power t
override almost anything our owl
Congress may do, the entire secre
tarial work, including the care of tn
achives, is under the complete juris
diction of England. Is that ten
dency toward peace or war?
4 Article establishes the seat q
the league at Geneva. That mean
that our destines are to be determin
ed by court sitting 5000 miles di:
tant from our own shores, only
cable connecting US with the pre-
ceedings and even that means q
communication subject to such Ger
sorship restrictions as may be pre-
scribed at the time. Our experience
!; during the war have shown how eas
it is for all news from across tn
, water to be denied us when the off
: cials SO decree. The location of tn
) Continued