South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-08-03
Opposition to the League VIII Not Prevail
BY nFnnkE mYoNE

member OF the League should resort
10 war in disregard OF the articles
referred to? That question IS an
swered definitely by Article is. which
reads as follows:
ARTICLE Is
Should any member OF the
League resort 10 war In disregard
OF its covenants under Articles u,
- or Is, IL shall ipso facto be
deemed 70 have committed an act
OF war against ali other members
OF the League, which hereby under
take Immediately TO subject II to
the severance Of all trade or finan-
cial relations. the prohibition OF
all intercourse between their ma
tionals and the nationals OF the
covenant breaking state. and the
prevention OF all financial, COM
mercial or personal intercourse
between the nationals of any 9TH
or state, whether a member Of the
League or not"
BY the same article IL is made the
duty OF the council in such case 10
recommend to the several govern
ments concerned what effective mill
tary or naval forces the members OF
the League shall severally contribute
20 the armed forces 20 be used TO
protect the covenants OF the
League"
l have cited the foregC 'ng provi-
sions OF the proposed covenant to
show that there is nothing in it that
in effect changes the constitution or
transcends the power of congress
under the constitution TO declare
war. raise and support armies. and
10 provide and maintain a navy. Let
US take an extreme case. Suppose
that Russia-restored 10 power and
influence, as she undoubtedly will
be some day-should declare war
upon Great Britain and undertake
10 acquire dominion over India.
That would be case of external ag-
gression contemplated by Article
10, and under Article Is, Russia
would be deemed 10 have committed
an act of war against all members
of the League. The United States
would first be required. like all 9TH
or members of the League. to sever
her trade and financial relations with
Russia and to prohibit all inter-
course between our own nationals
and the nationals of Russia. What
would be the duty OF the council ?
To recommend to the several gov
ernments concerned what effective
military and naval force they should
contribute TO protect the covenant of
the League
Do we discover here any obliga-
tiOn upon our part TO send armed
forces against Russia, except as they
may be authorized by the congress
of the United States? The duty of
severing trade relations and Of pro-
hibiting intercourse between the peo-
pie of Russia is clearly enjoined, but
the question Of armed participation
is expressly referred to the several
governments concerned.
II will be noted that.I am assum-
ing a highly improbable thing. Even
though Russia, in the distant future,
desired to do so, she could not make
war upon England--or any other
country for that matter in viola
ton of the covenant, without at once
finding herself at war with all the
rest Of the world, her commerce
paralyzed and her foreign trade de-
stroyed. In the penalties imposed
by the covenant for a violation of its
provisions, we find the surest qua
ranty of peace. on the other hand.
. 49, =
the League and submitted her dis
pute to the council. the cool and de-
iberate processes Of arbitration
would. in all probability. avert a re-
sort 10 arms.