The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-07

lot themselves what KIM OF govern
ment they shall have or under what
form of government they shall live? BY
what method could a small nation deter
mine for itself what It's policies shall be =?
This league Is organized so that the
tremendous power OF war or peace rests
with five diplomats, four of them Euro
pean. sitting behind closed doors, in
Europe, on the Island of Prinkipo. We
will assume for the sake OF the argument
that the first FIVE diplomats would be
disposed toward peace. In view of what
has happened: but remember that Alex
ander l.. when he announced the prin-
ciples for the Holy Alliance announced
as high and holy principles as have been
announced concerning this league. and
yet when those diplomats representing
the Holy Alliance met in 1922 they
passed two resolutions. The first was
for the absolute destruction Of the press,
and second the absolute destruction OF
free governments all over the face Of
the earth.
Now suppose in ten years from now
these hve diplomats. sitting In Europe.
representing the Ave Powers-or as 1t
may be then the nine Powers-desire
conflict instead Of peace. how are the
people who pay the taxes and furnish
the men to fight the battles to control
the situation? They have no voice. no
power to change the situation. These
men have the absolute power to call into
action millions of people to fight their
battles, and there Ia no checking power
upon the part of the masses whatever.
1t Is not q Leagi Of Nations at all; 1t
Is league of the representatives OF
certain Governments. who hold the ire
mendous power of peace or war in their
hands. unchecked by any possible action
OF the masses Of the people.
People should Have Decision.
IF those people who are to meet In
Versailles In a few days again will write
into this League OF Nations, first, that
the question of peace or war shall in
some way be referred to the people who
have to fight the battles. want to know
that. [Cheers and applause But 1
would count myself a common traitor to
my country to turn over to these men
over whom we have no control the power
to say whether we should fight war
ten years from now or not. regardless of
the Justice or the injustice of the cause
at that time. tCheers and applausel
MY friends, there is something pecu-
liar about the discussion OF those who
are advocating this league do not
charge them with intellectual dishonesty
but they have a hesitancy about stating
facts. / am Of the opinion that 1t is not
any desire upon their part to mislead,
but rather a subconscious feeling that
the facts may not advance their cause.
The ex-President spoke few nights
ago in this city, and ] want to read a
statement of his in illustration of what
have Just said. / want to refer you to
Article X. This is the one article in
this constitution which is plain and un-
equivocal. and I have not any doubt at
all as to who wrote 1t: 1t was not writ
ten by the American delegates. Let us
read II. and see II you do not observe
familiar directness chara cteristic of one
Of the great nations OF the earth
1.-The high contracting parties I'M
dertake to respect and preserve
against external aggression the ter
ritorial integrity and existing politi-
cal independence OF all States. MEM
bers OF the league
There Is nothing uncertain about
that There ie a solemn obligation upon
the part Of the United States II II enters
into this league to protect or to preserve
the territorial integrity of every nation
which enters into the league, and the
hope is that every nation upon earth will
enter 1t.
I'VE assume the task Of protecting the
territorial Integrity OF a nation which
has its possessions upon three CONT
nents We assume the task of protect
ing the territorial integrity OF Russia in
case Trotzky brings her into the league.
There is no avoiding the responsibility.
Now. Mr.. Taft said In the theatre a
few nights ago that Section 10 was so
arranged that Asia could take care of
the disturbance In Asia; America would
take care Of the disturbance in America,
and some other Powers would take care
OF the disturbances In Europe. Where
does he find the language for any such
statement?
Suppose that this little trouble which
seems now to be brewing between CSina
and Japan actually comes to crisis, and
China attacks japan and ceases her
career, and this Council sitting at Kin
kapoo meets for the purpose Of deter
mining what the United States shall do
under such circumstances, ard we will
aeume by some act that the ex-President
is sitting as one OF tho members of that
council by that time. and he says to
Japan: My construction 90" 7 placed 1t
upon CHS article in the atre in New
York was that you would take care of
Asia; we would take care OF the United
States and Europe would take care of
Europe But Japan says here IL the
bond. here Is the bond. Are you now a
nation OF honor or dishonor?'
"And while the American people may
be very slow to enter into this league,
l pledge you my word. II I understand
the American people when once they
have entered into 1t they will live up to
the contract
"They would not stand for the fiabby
and cowardly Interpretation that we were
China or Japan. The fact is. my friends.
that We solemnly pledge our men. our
man power and our finances to the pres
ervation OF the territorial integrity of
every nation upon earth. Now, what
does that mean?
Straftjacket on Human Race.
That assumes that every nation will
be in fifty years from now Just the same
as It is now. with reference to territory,
SC. In other words, we start out with a
status which ia to remain thus and so for
all time to come, and We propose by
either the enforcement of economic power
or military power to see that II does re-
main that way for all time to come.
car you Imagine Anything nacre destruc-
tive of civilization or OF human liberty
upon the human race and rivet II on
with military power?
This Is Prussianism pure and simple.
Suppose this league had been in exist
ence In l776-7l Instead OF France COM
ing to our rescue she would have had to
remain where she was or else have
4 nu0ht against 11s SunnOsa this had hee n