Evening star., 1919-02-28
EUROPE WILL REJECT LEAGUE
UNLESS u. S. SHARES BURDEN
Covenant Is Evidence of Good Faith of
France and England, But Self-Preser-
vation Will Mark Final Action.

siderable war in human history, was in
realistic mood. Left to itself. it
would have drawn a treaty of peace
based on the idea that 1t was necessary
TO take every physical precaution
against the enemy. Europe would have
made peace based upon the preser-
vation of the alliance between the ma
tions which had fought Germany, based
upon the idea of preserving this alliance
by mutual recognition of the extreme
claims of each OF the allies, In other
words. nothing seems more certain than
that If America at the peace conference
mad pursued her traditional policy Of
not intermixing in European AFFAIRS
Europe would have made another Kind
But Mr.. Wilson, representing himself
as the spokesman of the will of America.
came oveS here and -substantially served
notice upon Europe that the peace OF
versailles must be totally different
thing from the old settlements: that
american ideas about the peace of Paris
snould prevail. He represented a single
ration not exhausted by war. He spoke
with authority which for Europe was
almost absolute, and he has had his
way up to the present moment in forcing
Ine conference at Paris to lay aside
european territorial and financial oues-
uons until the new organization of So
clety was at least sketched in accord
ance with his own ideas.
Foundation of League.
But Europe, on its side, in consent
ing to accept Mr.. Wilson's leadership
in this matter. in consentipg to break
with those traditions, in giving Mr..
wilson a sketch of his league of ma
tions which he has taken back to
America, has done all this with equal
~ clear view. Obviously, it would be
unnecessary to take extreme preeau-
tons. territorial and military, against
Germany if for the future all the vast
resources OF the United States were
poo,ed with those of France and Eng
land and Italy in new association, in
wnlch each member was prepared to
DO ms utmost IT any member were at
tackled. determination of the league
OF nations from the European point
OF view is a defensive alliance be-
tween England, France, Italy and
America, for the purpose of maintain
ing the principles expressed in the
league of nations
If the United States is not prepared
to go this length. if it is not prepared
to accept manufactures in Asia and in
Africa, if it is not prepared to keen a
standing army, an expeditianary
army, strong enough so that IL CO.
operation with the British army. two
divisions can be put down in France
:" "tthii Ioui teeH Gays 1or every one di-
VISION Germany raises in excess of the
French establishment. then for Eng
land and for France the league of ma
tions is still-born another scrap of
paper. an utter dead letter
Practical Application.
The practical application of.alf this
is patent. If President Wilson. shall
succeed in persuading the American
all tn
England and Italy, co-guarantors of
the league of nations. prepared to de-
fend both nations and principles asso-
ciated, prepared to accept part of the
burden OF giving the smaller peoples
chance to organize and become
SeH-governing and self-sufficient
then President Wilson may come back
here and exercise an enormous infiu-
ence in the later phases of peace
making, and the ideas and principles
expressed in the league of nations
will dominate through the whole in
tricate and difficult progress of reor-
ganizing Europe and the rest of the
world. If President Wilson fails to
persuade the American people to take /
up their share of the burden of world
organization, then when Mr. Wilson. /
comes back he will find the league of /
nations project sheIved. and bitter /
and disulusioned Europe, thrown
back upoh the old-fashioned methods ,
and old-fashioned ideas. compelled to |
take. precautions against Germany, |
winch would be unnecessary if Amer |
lea were a permanent partner.
Our whole mission and our whole /,
role in Europe is now at a supreme |
crisis. Europe. and particularly !
France and England, have accepted /
our leadership expressed by Mr.. Will /
son and have formulated the pro |
jected league of nations, but they /
have done it purely and simply on the |
assurance of the President of the t
United States that America was pre- |
pared to share in the burdens re-
sponsibilities and guarantees of sucn |
a league of nations.
The French believe they have assur-
ance from the President in the matter
Of military establishment of America
the English at least have a profound
hope that their cordial consistent CO. |
operation with Mr.. Wilson, without
which he could not have achieved his
covenant. will be recompensed by
American participation in mandatory
of the world, but / do
not think / exaggerate when | say that
II America rejects her responsibilities
the profoundest disappointment and
will follow both in Eng
land and in France, and it will no longer
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