The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-04-26
DISCUSSION MAKES CONVERTS TO LEAGUE
IDEA, SAYS SAM UNTERMYER; PRESENT
BASED ON MINOR POINTS

second day following the publication
OF the covenant, as follows:
| THAT the leage, II adopted, will be
the greatest advance made in the
cause OF world peace in the history Of
civilization, 49,
| THAT the covenant in its present
form should, If practicable, be
amended: ..''
(a)-TO permit OF the greatest pos.
sible freedom for selfAetermination1
under the sauhpicea>of the league and
so that, the powers OF The league cal,
in no event be invoked to suppress or
interfere with the ambition of any
part Of q state for independence.
| (b)-To remove any ambiguity as to
whether in its present form it inter
feres with our insistence upon the
Monroe doctrine In my Judgment the
covenant, when fairly construed
amounts to distinct extension and
enlargement of that doctrine. In
view, however, of all that has been
said and written nthe subject all
doubt on this vital question should
be removed.
(c)-The contention (Which like
wise seems to me uns0und) that the
acceptance Of a mandate is compul-
sorry should be disposed OF by clause
in express terms of providing for the
rejection of the mandate> at the cleo
ton of the selected member.
(d)-Retirement from the league
by any of it's members should in
terms be provided for on ample no.
tice so as to do away with the posi-
blllty OF abrupt severance by ANY
member of its relations to the league,
and so that retirement shall not be-
come effective until the retiring mem
Der shall have fully performed its OBJ:
legations to the league.
Whilst these amendments or such of
them as can be secured are doubtless
advisable, the failure to obtain all or
any Of them is not of such vast I'M
portance as to justify for a moment
! considering the frightful alternative
OF the. collapse of the league
i If they are not ,obtainable, there
should be no hesitation in adopting
the covenant as originally submitted,
imperfect as it is claimed to be. It's
imperfections can be Strengthened out
later but even if that is impossible
we can better afford to live under it
as it is than to face the glastly al
tentative.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO INSURE WAR. ......-. .......
WHAT THEN IS THIS ALTERNA.
TIVE? Whilst criticism of the cove
nant has been varied and prolific,
greatly to our enlightenment, nothing
concrete has been presented that ris.
es to the dignity of an. alternative
plan unless it be the suggestion that
the allies shall form league of their
own, which is nothing more than a
!: repetition Of the disastrous alignment
OF great nations on the theory OF pre-
serving peace through the balance OF
power
If England, France. Italy and the
United States form such league in.
evitably the other nations will have
to form a competing league. and we
shall .have the world armed to the
teeth for all time to come.
What will happen If there is no
league and to what extent are we re-
sponsible for what is almost certain
to happe1f2
Our president has wisely and hui
namely insisted upon self.determina-
ton. In carrying out this principle It
becomes necessary to set up new ma
tionalities and to transfer the alleg-
lance Of old ones involving hundreds
of millions of human lives.
The imperative question that con
fronts us is whether, having set up
A these new nations and changed the
boundaries of the old ones and hav-
ing been otherwise responsible for the
republican forms of governments that
have. superseded monarchfal forms,
we have the right to turn our backs
upon these new countries and walk
away leaving them to the frightfu1
fate that may be in store for them
Having gone so far, are we not
bound in the interest OF, civilization
ITO complete the stupeKdous task thus
begun by protecting the sovereignty
q the nations thus brought into exist
ence? Can there be any question OF
our duty however unpleasant it may
be?
Unless We do this the war viii no,
only have been fought in vain; it will
have been the beginning OF incesssAt
wars
These new natiors will b. At on.
anothers threats within elk nno,stha
unless ther1 u power 60 restrais
them. With that power at hand be
lisvs that we shall have peaes without
sns n'eeoity for sxsre's'"s ~
When the smoke, Of the conflic
shall have cleared, away, the spirit q
the brotherhood Of man viii again as
sert itself, and We shall be ashamed t.
have entertained the thought of q. OAR
tial league when he might have gath
cred al the nations Of the world un
der . single ncnd and have begun tn,
process Or healing insteal Of keeping
taliye the spirit Of hatred.