The Irish standard., 1919-03-29
THE LEAGUE OF NAT1ONS-FROM 4
CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT.

A worlds Magma Charta is being framed at the
international Peace Conference at Paris Whether
wisely or not President Wilson has insisted that
the establishment of League of Nations shall pre-
cede the final draft of the of peace with the
Central Empires, and these two extremely impor-
tant propositions are to be coupled together for
adoption rejection at the hands OF the Allied
is that the President has inverted the true and log
ical order in which the two issues should be con-
sidered but quite apparent that the Presidents
mode of dealing with them will prevail
America is deeply concerned with the pro-
posed formation of the League of Nations than
with the terms of peace that shall be offered to the
vanquished nations. But the OBJ ectives of the two
proposals are in many respects so interviewer that
the arguments for or against them apply to both
in common. Whatever tends to make for the per-
manent future peace of the world in either pro-
posal must engage the earnest study and. profound
consideration of all who apprehend the full signi
fcance abf the present crisis in human history-the
most portentous since the fall of the Roman EN-
pire. '~n
1t would be gratifying to the great Catholic pop
ulation of the world if the good Offices and wise
counsel of Pope Benedict brought to bear upon
the great issues under discussion in the interna-
tional assemblage which is charting the future of
the of the worlds civilization. AS the head
and guiding spirit of the greatest and most perman-
ent international organization in existence the Cath
olic Church, it would that his advice and
egates and statesmen charged with the duty of franz
ing world organization that shall be the supreme
tribunal in the adjudication of disputes among ma
tions But political and other considerations have
had it otherwise, and the vast and ntellec-
tual stores of the Vatican have been suffered
main undrafted in the greatest emergency in modern
history.
Catholic authorities, however, are contributing
many timely suggestions in the universal discussion
of these great issues that will receive the earnest
consideration of all who look to the Peace Con-
ference for the permanent establishment ofs the
structure OF peace and the substitution of inter-
national justice for international injustice Rev.
John ]. O'Gorman, DEL, in recent article deal
ing with the basis of the Leag Agreement has Of
fered some points of criticism, derived from the
Catholic viewpoint that are both interesting and
constructive in trend. The root evil which caused
the war, he points out, is pagan idea of complete
state sovereignty. He continues:
IF state is absolutely sovereign, if it is answer
able to no hig her authority of God man, if it
say to those who would interfere to remedy an in
justice, this is domestic question, then inevita-
who raise and maintain the largest army. the
largest navy, and the most powerful air force. That
way lies If this system continues the youths
who took part in this may still be of military
age when the next call to don the khaki or field grey
arrives. Unless we want an ever-present danger of
war. then the Peace Conference must result in a
League of Nations that will acknowledge higher
power than the state, and that will obey and en-
force international ethics. 49,
For the only sound basis of the League of Ma
tions is international ethics. This new SCI
ence nor new dea but one which was taught in
the Old Testament, and which has formed part of
the Christian tradition from the beginning St. Au-
gustine, Aquinas, and Sauren laid down the funda-
mental principles centuries ago. Unfortunately,
few indeed of the delegates to the Peace Conference
are we'll grounded in Catholic philosophy. Few
even of learned and facie writer's who deluge us
with words about the Peace Conference seem to
have grasp of the principles of international ethics
We Catholics, however, should know them as we
know our Catechism"
Father OGorman summarizes these principles
under twelve heads, which are here briefly noted:
O Acknowledgement of God as the Supreme
authority which nations and individuals must obey
(2) The Ten Commandments apply to all ma
tions and individuals without exception and must
be obeyed.
(3) All nations are free and equal and subject to
God, but tulelage may be provided for primitive
nations as parents provide for their4children
s 4) No nation is really sovereign (that is ire
sponsible), for though urdically perfect society,"
state is necessarily subject to the will of God, as
manifested in international ethics. Of the very
nature of things, this international ethics calls for
an organism to proclaim and apply it. This organ
ism can only be formed BY the nations creating a
new international and supernational body-the
League of Nations.
90 Every nation has as its object the common
good Of the whole nation, but this object must be
SsSs @sss s z