The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-26
AMERICA ASKED
TO INSURE WORLD
LEAGUE SUCCESS
CONTINUED From FIRST Pars.l

'NontiNued FROM FIRST paWe.l
many viii be. She may go Bolsbevigt,
as Russia has done, and attack her
%neighbors as Russia is doing now. She
may become imperialistic again. and
follow the old pathway. II she does
either, France will be left to meet the
storm exactly as in 1914.
AS a consequence, the French first
asked that the league Of nations should
contain provisions insuTing prompt ac-
ton IN case Of German aggression, and
men with repeated emphasis requested
mat the United States and Great Brit
am should underwrite the league Of ma
ions by agreeing that in case Of Ger
man aggression, and specifically In case
Germany send her troops across the
Rhine 10 attack France, the United
states and Great Britain should pledge
themselves to recognize this as an act
OF war against themselves, and auto
matically set their forces IN motion
without waiting for the league OF ma
ions 70 examine tho case. =
British consent TO such a proposal
was ready and natural, since the Brit
lsh recognized that only accident and
German laundering prevented the kai-
ser troops from getting to the chan
mel in 1914, with all the consequent
perils to Great Britain, n the mistake
OF 1914 will not be repeated; but the
British are insisting that America share
The guarantee, not only to insure Amer
teas great potential aid, but also In the
belief that the greatest possible guar.
antee for the future will be the recog-
milton by the Germans that aggression
against France viii mean war with
both Great Britain and tho United
States: Had Germany realized that in
1914, Europe believes she would have
hesltated long before precipitatinR war,
Obviously, President Wilson could
give no such understanding. and quite
as plainly Lloyd George will not ven
ture 10 give such a guarantee without
referring II to parliament, but as 1t
stands there seems good reason to be-
lteye that both the American president
and the British prime minister have
pledged themselves to go before their
respective legislative branches and
make every possible plea that such a
course shall be adopted, No real OBJ
staCles lies In the way with Great Brit I,
ain, but II is patent that there are
many obstacles 10 America,
Only to Aid France.
1t should be clearly understood that
the president Is not seeking to create
a European alliance for his own coun-
try, that he Is not undertaking to bind
our fortunes with those of Britain or
even Of France. He is merely consent
Ing to do all hat he can TO protect
france to save her from having to
German attack II Germany follows her
old ideas. To ask France to he the
soldiers Of the league Of nations In Eu-
rope and, single handed, face the first
onslaught after her terrible sacrifices
and wounds of the last four years. is TO
ask too much, and the president has
wisely recognized this,
Had the league Of nations covenant
provided n method for enforcing It's
decisions or protecting its members
from attack, the present proposal
would have been unnecessary, but as il
stands the league OF nations covenant
If no more tina a declaration Of prin-
ciple and purpose by those who signed
I to live under international law. II
has no power TO resist Bolshevism or
German militarism; It has no machin-
cry. for defense, It represents an ex-
pertinent in idealism and this expert
ment can only succeed II the great
to try II.
Germany has as yet given no sign.
accept the league OF nations covenant.
Behind Germany lies Russia. given over
70 aggressive anarchy, Nothing In the
league OF nations covenant will protect
france or the smaller n~ationalties, who
nave been rescued from slavery. from
'NAlN W. iiAh VI RuShldll altdNkS, l ne
present proposal, therefore, is the first
practical effort TO guarantee the peace
OF the world by n defensive alliance UNI
I'll, II ever, all the great nations shall
accept the league Of nations covenant
in the spirit In which II has been drawn
seek the same end toward which
II points-namely, international peace,
assured by international law univer-
accepted.
1t Is unjust to say that the president,
by consentlns TO use his influence to
promote this insurance Of the league
OF nations, has surrendered any prin-
ciple or any ideal. on the contrary, II
shall succeed in persuading congress
TO follow him, his ideal league Of ma
lions viii take m new vitality. will re
gain ground which It has lost in Eu-
rope In tho recent weeks. for in the
of Europe torn by anarchy,
and the scene OF many wars, there haa
been a natural and inevitable loss OF
faith in n league of nations proposal
which carried with it no method OF
protection and no guarantee OF safety.
Copyright. 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)