Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01

Why then this plan to stransle and |
crush us7
"Mr President, there is here some
thing amiss."
Senator Knox then took up the ques-
ton of substitute proposals to end war.
saying that the arbitration of all dis
putes might be compelled under such
plan as that provided for in the inter-
national prize court, or the unratifed
British and American French
arbitration treaties of 1911, or the OIL
ney-Pauncefote treaty OF 1897, or a
union of the best In all of them.
A second way, he SAID, would be. IL II
were felt that world interests and power
were reshaping In such way that Amer
lea needed to be protected, and needed
to protect others, to form an alliance
with the strongest other power or two
powers
His third proposal was that, IL a great
majority of the United states should de-
sire to establish a true league of ma
tions." not merely TO build coalition
to further trade or to preserve and ex-
pand territorial possessions" then:
AT convenient and proper time in
the relatively near future, we shall CO.
operate with the representatives of all
the other powers in the formation
hilt uol ~ DOTllOIl, OIL tne nations
of the world an International league.
"AmonE the first articles Of the con-
stitution which shall create this league
should be ono which shall provide that
war is thereby declared to be an Inter-
national crime and that any nation en-
gaging In war. except in seif-defense
when actually attacked, shall be punish
ed by tho world as an international
| criminal.
This constitution should also provide
that all disputes relating to interna-
tional matters as defined by an inter-
national code should be decided by an
international court.
The code would define what war is
and would discriminate between aggres-
sive and defensive war, between assault
and protection, and would outlaw one
and not the other, for no system Of law
ever enacted or wisely projected has
penalized self-defense by man or by
state. Existence ceases when the right
and power of self-defense is gone.
This code would also provide thai
one nation could not summon another
before the international court, except
in respect to a matter of internationa
and common concern to the contendins
nations, and that the jurisdiction Of
the court would not extend to matter,
of governmental policy. which would b,
excluded from arbitration unless one o,
the disputing parties had by a treat,
or otherwise given another country 6
claim that might involve these subjects
Under such a code we would not bt
called upon to arbitrate the policy in
volved in our Monroe Doctrine: our con
servation policy; our immigration pol
icy: our right to expel aliens: oul
right to repel invasion; our right e
maintain military and naval establish
ments, or coaling stations within ou
own borders or elsewhere, as the pro
lection and development of this coun
try might demand our right to maxi
necessary fortification of the Panama
Canal, or on our frontiers: our right tt
discriminate between natives and for
eigners in respect TO rights of propert.
and citizenship; and other matters o
like character.
THE International court should be au
thoriZed by the league constitution Il
call upon the powers signatory to en-
force its DEGREES and awards as agains
unwilling states by force. economic pres
sure or otherwise"
THE court should sit in the hemi
sphere of the contendtng nations. an,
IL the dsputants lived in opposite hemi
sphere, then in tile hemisphere OF tn,
defendant Power.
THE constitution should further pro
vide that IL II were necessary to enforc,
a decree against an American Powe
refusing to follow the decree Of th'
court, that such decree should be en-
forced by the countries of this hemi
sphere; that II a decree Of the cour
must be enforced against q country o
; the Eastern Hemisphere, then IL shoui'
be by such means and methods and b!
: such forces and powers ss tho cour
. and the Powers Of that hemispher
should decide.
, "A league framed on these broa
lines would carry with 1t a minimum
, loa, Of our sovereignty; 1t would reliev
us from participation in the broils o
Europe It would preserve the Monro
, Doctrine and save America from tn
results Of European aggression and In
, trigue II would reduce to the minimum
the causes of war; and would mako tn
waging thereof otherwise than In self
defense when attacked. a public Grim
punishable by the combined forces o
the world.
But, Mr.. President. these are no
, the problems which now press urgentl
, upon us. As l have recently propose
, to the Senate, let us have an end Of a
: this.
! Let the discussion of league of ma
tions be postponed for later considera
tion, not alone by the victoriou
belligerents, but by all the nations
, and when at some future time genera
conference on this subject may be bot
possible and useful.
Processing as we do to have a
humanity for our concern. let us not |
our league outlaw a great part of III
I civilized world. Let us see to 1t ths
{ this league which Is to usher IN a reig
Z Of Righteousness upon the earth sha
1 comprise all peoples that dwell upon |
e including our regenerated, democratize
enemy.
= America Would Help Again
Meanwhile our co-belligerents nee
have no anxiety. for 30 surely as tn
sun rises II the Hun flood again threat
= ened to engulf the world. we shall asai
. be found fighting for the right with II