The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-07

growing out of the increasing prox- lmity of nations; or else we must continue to compete with other na- tions in armament The United States is now too close to the rest of the world to continue to pursue a pol icy of isolation. We must either com pete with the rest or combine with the rest. This is the dilemma before us.
 If we enter the race now with armies and navies and arsenaIs as gigantic as they are today, merely the taxation for the upkeep of these things would be staggering addi- ton to the financial burden of na- tions already nearly bankrupt with war debts. Every future increase would be still more crushing. Our own country, 'n spite of it's wealth would be reduced long way toward poverty.
 Historic Precedents.
 A glance at history shows that we have long been headed in the direc- tion of international union, although all too slowly Various forms of in ternatinal control have developed. There has grown up a network of treaties; there has come an interaa- tional postal union; there have been international agreements as to weights and measures, and even coin age; there has been a growing ten dency to arbitrate international quar- rels. There have been international conferences and treaties growing out of tabhshment of the Peace Palace at The Hague.
 The progress of civilization consists largely. as Professor Keller of Yale expresses it, of the extension of the Peace Group" Just as ages ago families sank their family fauds and united to form a village, and villages buried the hatchet and united to form state, so the great states of the world are now ready to disarm and form a great league of peace.
 The process can never stop till the Peace Group comprises rrac .ically the entire world. So long as it stops short of that we shall have world wars.
 We must not expect to have a United States of the WorId'' perfect ed at once, like Minerva from the head of love. We must feel our way and develop along lines similar to those taken in the development of our own nation.
 The Next Step.
 The beginning should be made now. The first step toward combin. ahon is an international treaty. under the terms of peace, creating a League of Nations. This is the object of Presid dent Wilson's fourteenth point The League to Enforce Peace, Of which ex-President Taft is the presi- dent, is an organization started soon after the present war, for the pur- pose of formulating plan for the bringing together of the nations.
 The proposals of the League to En- force Peace, as revised and promul- gated on November 23rd last are; A League of free nations comprising the nations associated in winning the Great War, and with the addition of all other free nations possible. The constitution of such a league would include:
 (a) An impartial tribunal" for the
 decision of justiciable questions. (b) "A Council of Cancellation" to
 mediate on non-justiciable ques-
 tiops.
 Co "An Administrative Organization"
 to administer 'internationalized
 places' such. for instance, as th7
 Bosphorus may become and con-
 duct other affairs of common in
 terest.
 (d) "A representative congress to
 formulate and codify internaAon-
 al law" etc.
 Gel "An Executive Body" '~The representation of the differ ent nations should be in propor- tion to the responsibilities ana obligations they assume"-
 "A resort to force by any na tion should be prevented by : solemn agreement that any az