The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-28
Surrender OF Our Sovereignty with
out Prevention OF War.

Surrender OF Our Sovereignty with
out Prevention OF War.
II would not be fair to President
WILSON, 1t would not be meet for THE
SUN, to base final Judgment of his
League of Nations-what 1t Is as a
whole, what 1t means, what 1t pro-
poses-on his explanation to the men,
bers of Congress whom he entertained
at White House dinner.
Our information. the country's in
formation. comes from the news re-
ports of fragmentary conversations Of
various Washington correspondents
with various Senator's and Represen-
tatives who heard Mr.. WILSON'S ex-
plantations but were not always able
10 understand or interpret them alike.
As several of those Senators and Rep
resentatives came away from the din
ner In doubt as to just what the peace
delegates had done or intended to do
with their League of Nations. as
complete instrument, we must remain
in doubt. AS some of them after Mr..
WILSON threw light on this point or
that point, were still left In the dark
as to such points we also must feel
that we are left in the dark as to
the same points.
Some of the members OF Congress,
for example. came away with the lin
preston that the Constitution of the
League would need to be modified be-
fore 1t could be adopted. Others. how
ever gathered the idea from Mr.. Will
SON that there could he change Of
only the language of certain clauses.
which are 50 vague or obscure or con-
Trajectory that they cannot be read by
the ordinary mind SO as to seem to
say what Mr.. WILSON and those who
fashioned them with him think they
mean to say. Some of them thought
1t was made clear by the President
that a particular group of nations
could not dominate the League to the
prejudice Of the rest Of the nations
Others thought the President ex-
pressed rather the view that such a
thing was not likely TO happen.
Out Of all the expressions of those
Senators and Representatives. how
ever as conveyed TO the newspapers
through the correspondents. there do
appear to be two things which they
gree the President clearly and ex-
~, h. L., l,-
entering the League Of Nations this
country unQuestlonably would surren-
der some of its sovereignty.
The second is that, in spite of that
surrender Of sovereignty, no member
nation could be compelled to do any
thing unless such nation by its own
vote agreed that it should be thus
compelled to do It: that, in fact. such
nation could at any moment withdraw
from the League, presumably thereby
recovering its lost sovereignty. al
though defaulting on its implied moral
obligations.
If, in reality, the League never can
do a single thing in regard to single
member unless that member itself CON
ours. II is in fact n toothlesS League,
. spineless League, jellyfish League.
1t Is, then. perhaps a mere sham de-
vlsed to impose upon the credulity OF
lesser and irresponsible tribal nations
led 10 see in it heavenly visions.
Wherefore the American people, any
frank, straightforward, Pair deyfrf,g
people, must he entitled TO demand Of
President WILSON and his fellow fab
ricators of the League Of Nations:
Why surrender Of our priceless
sovereignty for nothing?
Why a surrender OF our sovereignty
for n thing which will not, cannot
prevent war?
Why compromise of our moral re-
eponsibilitieS for the mock privilege
Of contributing, in Mr.. WILSON'S pas-
sionately emotional words, to prom
Use to do for all the peoples Of all the
corners of the earth something which
Tlll give them comfort ana happiness
II we do it, which will disappoInt and
sadden them to the depths Of despair
81 we do not do IT.?
Why, II any nation or any tribe can
say nay 10 this marvellous League
OF Nations whenever 1t feels ike II
can quit II whenever II Is moved 10
part from 1t. can make war wherever
= seeks war why, in the name of
sense and In tn" name Of CANTOR NOT
set M another tribunal similar to the
almost forgotten Hague tribunal with
aTsal or quaNiudAIal functions in
the hope that by power If examine or
force OF moral persuasion or dint ~
enlightened argument the mcmbers NJ