Evening star., 1919-01-25

Press. )-The BRUSH plan 1of q ieaSue
of nations has been completed. The fol-
lowing details, though unofficial and
subject to alteration, represent in sub
stance the plan that will be laid before
the peace conference.
The main feature of the league pro-
vided for in the plan will be the estab-
lishment of machinery for handling in
ternational disputes. This will be based
on an agreement among the members OF
the league not to interfere with the ter
ritopial integrity of states. or to permit
others to interfere with them.
To Assist New States.
The rendering of assistance and guild
ance to new and undeveloped states to
maintain freedom of transit and just
commercial relations between the mem
bers Of the league are some OF the prin-
cipal aims to be supervised by the
league. A committee to rule on the
question of trade in ammunition and
arms, and before which would also come
up for study international problems re-
lating to economics and sanitation. will
be appointed. A like central body for
handling international labor questions is
provided for in the plan.
In this connection it is held that
all international bodies now existing
and any which may be created must
be brought together in some central
place, which will be the capital of
the league. and work in close CO.
operation with the league if the eff
fort to promote international CO.
operation is to be successful. The
British plan provides for a general
conference of the delegates of all
nations members of the league, and
for a smaller international executive
council for the transaction of ordt-
nary business.
Experienced Man to Preside.
A permanent secretariat for the
league would be presided over by a
man of authority and experience in
European affairs. sitting at the capl-
tai Of the league with all necessary
diplomatic immunities. Periodic meet
ings of the leagues delegates are
provided for, but 1t is pointed out
that it probably would be conven-
lent for states to appoint permanent
representatives to the capital, who
would act for their countries until
more authoritative delegates arrived
The plan excludes some states, like
Germany, from the league for the
present, on the ground of untrust-
worthiness. but it holds that this ex-
clusion should not be prolonged un-
necessarily. Every civilized state with
a settled government will be invited
TO join the league. Provisions for sep
arate representation for India and the
British dominions is provided for.
into two classes-justiciable and nom
justiciable-and each state viii be
the final judge as to whether a dis
pute is justiciable or not
Permanent Court of Justice.
The establishment of a permanent
court of International justice for the
settlement of justiciable disputes Is
proposed, and until it is created q
court of arbitration Is suggested.
Either a council or a conference of
the league is thought to be the proper
organ for the consideration OF nom
justiciable Quarrels.
The plan maintains that in either
case all that ought to be attempted
at present is to see that there shall be
a deliberate public discussion and that
International public opinion, and not
formal coercive machinery, shall be
appealed to. 1t is held that the world
There are two cases only which 1t is
planned that the league should apply
coercion to sovereign states.
The first case would be where one
disputant had complied with the unan-
imous report of the conference or
council of the league or with the
award of the court Of arbitration,
while the other disputant refused to
accept this as final The league
would have to assist the complying
state il the other should offer vio-
lence. The second case would be that
of an aggressive power which insisted
on going to war without allowing the
league time to discuss the case prop
erly.
To Sever With Offending.
The leagues members would be
bound in both cases to sever diplo-
matte, commercial and economic re-
lations with the offending state. The
military or naval steps necessary to
enforce obedience to agreements of
the league would be decided by the
council. Limitations which interna-
tional law now impose on warlike &C
tions would not apply to the league,
vision would be made to cover the
matter of expenses. aid given by one
member OF the league to another in
connection with belligerent action and
protection from results Of hostile ac-
tion because of compliance by any
state with the covenants of the
league.
The plan looks to the cancella-
tion of treaties incompatible with the
tenets of the league and calls for a
provision regarding the publicity of
treaties as well as reconsideration of
obligations on occasions.
Disarmament Difficult.
The question Of disarmament is held
to be difficult, although more or less
complete disarmament Is considered
necessary to peace. 1t is suggested
that there might be some step toward
the abolishment Of conscription as one
measure of the plan.
The plan would prohibit any nation
having forces or armament suf1icient
for the purpose to indicate an inten-
ton of employing them aggressively
Disarmament is one Of the earliest
problems to be dealt with by the
league. according to this plan. in case
the question Is not settled by the
peace conference.
Willing to Relegate Problems.
LONDON. January 24-Reuter's
Paris correspondent says he has been
given to understand that Great Brit
ain is willing to relegate such prob
lens as those concerning Mesopota-
mia, Palestine and the German colo
MES to a league of nations, as soon
as that body is formed, in order to
avoid wasting the time of the peace
conference. F.'-~. says the corre-
spondent, it is apparent that Great
Britain is not desirous Of making any
demands for territory incompatible
with the principles Of a league Of na-
tons.