The sun., 1919-02-15
VIII 1t Be Anything More Than
Another Hague Tribunal:

Another Hague Tribunal:
The drafted Constitution Of the pro-
posed international society or league
TO maintain peace on earth was made
public yesterday after having been
read by its author, or sponsor, Presi-
dent WILSON, to the Peace Confer
cnce without action by that body.
The President is sailing to-day from
Brest for a brief visit to the seat of
the Government of the United States
He brings with him this long awaited
document to invite, we suppose, the
advice and consent of the Senate con-
corning It's adoption by the United
States. The draft of the new World
Constitution, as 1t Is somewhat gran.
diloquently styled In the dispatches,
comprises about all that has been
done in practical way by the Peace
Conference since President WILSON
departed from this country ten or
eleven weeks ago to attend in person
to the details of the conclusion of
peace with the beaten enemy Powers
with which we have been at war.
1t Is to be said in the first place
that every right minded man or
woman in this republic would hail
with Joy and support with eagerness
any workable plan for the prevention
Of the horrors of war not involving
the surrender of that which to the
American heart is dearer and more
desirable even than world peace it.
self, namely, our unimpaired national
sovereignty, our complete indepen-
dence of supergovernment of any sort,
our freedom of initiative in all mat
tiers affecting our national interests.
our right to consider America first.
1t Is evident now that when Presi-
dent WILSON carried over to Paris
the phrase "a League of Nations" he
carried something which was at that
time no more than a mere phrase. In
his departing address to Congress he
communicated nothing definite or spe-
cific about his plan for a league of
nations, fer the quite sufficient rea-
son that he had no plan other than
to obtain all he could for peace as
negotiations and intercourse devel-
oped the attitude of the representa-
tives Of the other great Powers. His
own attitude was tentative; his EN-
terprise pure opportunism. The same
waiting policy has marked all his pub
lie utterances in Europe ON the SUBJ
ject. We have had till now nothing
but generalities because until now
President WILSON has not known
what he could accomplish for the
cause Of peace in the way Of practi-
cal agencies and safeguards.
The text of the proposed covenant
and constitution now enables lis to
measure his success or failure in max
ing that which was entirely ideal and
verbal practical and effective.
The first thing to be noted Is the
abandonment Of the idea of stand
ing international police, composed of
military and naval forces contributed
by the members of the league and
subject to the command Of a superna-
tional executive or council or tribunal
for the enforcement of supernatural
DEGREES or Judgments. Weeks ago
THE Sun pointed out that the EN-
ployment Of our troops or warshipS In
this way would require an amend
ment to the Federal Constitution, be-
cause that instrument provides the
only method by which the United
States can constitutionally engage In
war with another nation. Some emil.
nent friends Of peace enforcement, In
Guiding ex-Presldent TAFT, the presl-
dent of the League TO Enforce Peace,
have taken issue with this newspaper
on that subject, holding that system
attic participation by our army and
navy in an International policing OF
the world would not necessarily be
unconstitutional; but as President
tions have proceeded in Europe he
seems to have recognized more and
more clearly the constitutional OBJ.
lection to the world police idea and
latterly he has even been reported as
using this objection rs an argument
against the French plan Of peace en-,
forcement by the maintenance of O
strong international police.
Now. tho most singular thing abou,
the plan presented yesterday to tho
Peace Conference and by that bod,
tabled for further consideration 1,
mat while 1t ingeniously and success
fully avoids the constitutional oblec
ton Just referred to, that is, will
regard to the absolute control O
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