Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-08
spcnlsing of soycrcignty
center.

| IN most Of the debates which have taken
1 place upon the Presidents plan for q
| league of nations, the opposition has dwelt
| upon the surrender of sovereignty which
| 1t has called upon America to make, upon
the encroachment upon the liberty of action
this country always has maintained and the
dire results which might be expected to fol-
low the acQuiescence OF the United States
in any international. union strong enough to
enforce its mandates This sort Of argument
always has aroused measure of alarm on
the part of those who believe that American
independence must be preserved whatever
may befall the world
II any actual sacrifice of sovereignty were
involved i'll this nations participation in
league OF nations that is, il the President
were bent upon any deliberate ENHANCEMENT
or alliance which left the United States bercft
OF either the right or the opportunity to shape
the course Of its own destiny, then the alarm
created in some quarters would be we'll
founded. The protests which have been
sounded at home would have basis OF JUS
tifcation, and all OF us might we'll look with
misgiving upon the processes to which the
American peace mission in Paris is commit
ting the country.
a sincere and intelligent examination of
the league of nations constitutions as pro-
posed. must convince any fair-minded man
that it pledges no member of the league to
forfeit its liberty. 1t binds all members to
unite IN the punishment Of an outlaw mem
Der. 1t imposes the obligation on the part
or governments in disagreement with each
other to submit their differences for adjudi-
cation to the league. and it does little else.
II seeks TO compel no nation to shape its
purely domestic policies in accordance with
'he wishes OF the league beyond the logical
disarmament or reduction Of ornaments de-
signed. NO pool of material
contemplated There is no denial of the
right Of member to seek redress for wrongs
insisted upon
wherein there is any loss of sovereignty
on the part of member OF the league of
nations ii is difficult to see If sovereignty
means that a nation shall have the right at
all umes TO run amuck, did Germany;
II 1t means that any powerful nation shall
have the right to invade and pllage a weak
heighbor; If it means that any set of men
VINO happen to be in control OF the govern
ment of a country may without Just cause
Drlng onswar then sovereignty is an evil
ana hfs no place in the civilization of today.
IL might we'll be wiped out. But sovereignty
does not and cannot mean that
ASIDE from the mere abstraction OF the
term, sovereignty is nothing more or less
than power, on the ono hand, and right. IN
the other. Its sovereignty did not save Bel
gum from being outraged, because it had
not th7 power TO prevent it. 1t had the right
10 40 so, put was too weak to maintain that
right. a league of nations would safeguard
the right as assailed in such case and
mat is exactly what it is being fashioned
10 40 1T does not abolish power, but il
seeks TO control power which otherwise might
DC abused, as it was in 1914 and would
continue to be abused il Germany had NOT
suffered defeat in this war