Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-26
'MUSTACCEPT
PLAN
HITCHCOCK
Have but One to Choose
From and It Will Pre-
vent War, He Says.

| Chicago, March 26-Declaring
that there is only one league of
nations constitution before the
world and that people must ac-
cept this or nothing, Senator
G. NJ Hitchcock of Nebraska, for
merly chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, paused a mo-
ment in his speech to the Associa-
ton of Commerce today, and add
ed:
II am for it.
I'VE need not deceive ourselves
! with foolish hopes that wars will
naturally cease" Senator Hitch
cock said. Experience has shown
| that they come whether nations
are barbarous or civilized. Chris
tian or pagan, educated or illit-
crate.
They will continue in the fu-
ture as they have in the past, un-
less nations unite in a plan to avoid
/ them, and for the first time in his
tory nations are making efforts to
do this.
Means Saving in Lives and Money.
| will the efforts of the men at
Paris succeed or fail? The an
swer is of tremendous Importance
to families who must furnish SOL
diers if they do fail 1t is of great
importance to taxpayers. If the
( league IS not formed, the peace
/ signed at Paris WILDE only a truce
and every nation will resume war
preparations on bigger scale
than ever. Taxes in the United
States to cover these preparations
would run into hundreds of mil
lions of dollars year Most of
this burden would be in the form of
taxes on incomes and business
profits.
Perhaps the establishment of a
league of nations was never posi-
BILE before. A great change, how
ever, has come over the world. In
the past, the world has been ours
ed by autocratic governments bent
on conquest. Gradually they were
supplanted by democracies until
when war came in 1914 only three
remained. These three-Russia,
Germany and Austria-Hungary-
as long as they stood, any effort to
organize the world for peace was
impossible
World Now Ready for 1t.
Nov, however. the nations of
the world have become, or BY our
aid may become, largely democrat
ic. 1t should be comparatively
simple for them to make an agree
ment to establish international
peace based on justice.
THAT is the effort now being
made at Paris. America leads. Her
representatives are devoting their
energies to securing for humanity
the great boon of a world free
from future wars.
Shall we support this effort or
repudiate it? Already opposition
is strongly developed.
League viii Prevent Wars.
Il believe that the people of the
world will accept the league as it
has been prepared in Paris be-
cause they must realize the prom
ises the nations make to each 9TH
er will act as an effectuaI prevent
ative of war. Consider these
promises:
"First-To respect and preserve
against external aggression the
political independence of each
member
"Second-In the event of a dis
pute with another member to sub
init it to arbitration if arbitrators
can be agreed upon or if not to
submit it to an inquiry by the ex-
ecutive council of the league or to
the league itself
''Third-Not to make secret
treaties nor treaties inconsistent
with this constitution.
'Fourth-To reduce armament
to such an extent as may be unani-
mously agreed to and thereafter
not to increase them without the
consent of the executive council.
"Fifth-Not to conceal the re-
sources of war from each other.
''Sixth-To arrange for the reg
ulation of the private manufacture
of arms and ammunition.
"Seventh-That the league shall
have power to regulate trade and
traffic in arms and ammunition
with those countries where their
common interests require it.
"Eighth-That they will mutu-
ally support each other against
any member breaking his cove
nant with the league and that they
will give economic and financial
aid to each other when attacked.
1.-The plan to prevent wars con-
sists chiefly of provisions for ar
bitration of disputes or inquiry by
the executive council. Arbitration
is the most binding form of decis-
ion and involves the full consent
of both nations.
People Want Fighting Ended.
Besides the prevention of war
by means of arbitration or of in
quiries, each of which assures that
at least nine months cooling off
time, the limitation of armaments !
also is an important restraint. It |
is easy to see that the whole life