The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-30

ambitions ana dangerous rlNdhicS "
the leading nations, perhaps II makes
little serious difference whether the
entente now seeming to exist between
the two great English speaking nations
should wax or wane; but SO long as IL
is possible for SO wise and experienced
an authority as Frederick Harrison In
the Fortniohtiy Rcviep to refer to the
project of such a league as "pestilent
nonsense" and for Sir Herbert Stephen
in the Nineteenth Century and After
to make merry over 1t as Tho League
Of Dreams" one may be permitted to
have some misgivings on the matter
without fairly being called a pessimist.
Defends Position of France.
I do not sympathize in the least de-
gree with those who appeal to the pro-
posed defensive quasi-alliance Of Eng
land, the United States and France az
evidence of any want of conviction on
the part OF its promoters as to the value
of the proposed league. l can we'll I'M
derstand why the unstrung nerves OF the
Sorely tried and greatly suffering people
of France, who have borne the brunt OF
the battle and are nearest to the source
of possible danger, should desire some
insurance against the risks OF the i'm
mediate future more substantial than
tne more OF less ucNiSc Va
the covenants of the league.
II the risk. instead of being 30 re-
mote-for the present at least, and
probably for many years--as to he prac-
tically negligible were really as for
midable and as imminent as 1t may seem
| to the tortured nerves and apprehensive
| vision of our French allies. ! should still
think that we ought not to shrink from
the proposed engagement; that 1t is
really a part of the duty undertaken
| when we armed ourselves to make the
world safe for democracy; that IL we
should now retire from the conflict in
WEAKNESS or disgust we should Justly
incur the reproach of being regarded
alike by friends and enemies as quit
| ters"
My only regret in this connection is
that an obviously fair ground has been
given to the proud and sensitive king
| dom of Italy to nurse a grievance which
may in the future enable some such
tricky and shifty politician as CrisTd to
swing the Italian people as he did out
Of their natural and proper orbit and
align them in some combination which
may prove injurious to the democratic
nations and dangerous to the continued
peace OF the world
Obstacles to BE Met.
| An Observation-Disclosures Italian al
lance would have been perfectly reason
! able and proper as a temporary eNpe-
dent pending the secure establishment
OF League OF Nations and it's compile
ton by the adherence of Germany, Aus
tria and n reconstructed Russia. In
the absence of such an alliance, and as
Stunning the possible failure of the League
OF Nations to preserve the peace of the
world, II Is surely of the first importance
to tho United States. as well as to the
| British Empire. that the good relations
brought about by the common interests
OF the two great Powers years before
the outbreak of the European war and
still more closely cemented by their com
mon efforts and sacrifices in the wal
should be perpetuated.
That these friendly relations, amount.
ing as they do in substance TO a defen
sive alliance between the two countries
should. as Lord Finlay says. be FOR
ever indissoluble," and in the words Of
Mr.. Root, become 1.-THE safeguard of the
democracies OF the world" must surely
be the fervent prayer of every patriot e
citizen OF the United States and of every
loyal subject in the British Empire. Ye
there are obstacles-more than one, un
fortunately-to the continuance OF thi!
great international friendship. AS 1t Il
| OF the first Importance that these shoulC
be fully realized. in order as far as pos
sible to be removed or mitigated by ap
propriate endeavor. / shall ask for spac
/ to consider them in another article