Evening star., 1919-03-21
W|CTORS' LEAGUE
OR WORLDLEAGUE?
What Do You Mean by
League of Nations? A Di-
versity of Leagues.
NO GUTTER; NO SUCKER
THEODORE w. MOVES.

| 1dGOOOIIc =" NO Ed.
Editorial Correspondence Of The Star.l
The universal question is: care you
for or against league of natons?''
And the frequent counter inquiry is:
What do you mean by league of ma
tions'?"
For there is league of nations the
argument for which is irresistible. And
there is also league of nations which
is indefensible. Between these two ex-
tremes lies the workable. practically eff
fective, peace reinforcing, war preventing
league of nations for which a war
weary world yearns.
| A Victors' League Certain.
First we have victors' league of ma
tions which has functioned, is now func-
tioning and will for period continue
to function under it's original impulse.
1t includes the great powers which by
unified effort have won the world war.
and with the same unity are now max
ing an enduring peace of victory and
justice. This league of men. of varied
nationaljties, who have fought and bled
side by side in defense of world liberty
will hold together to a certainty until
the full enforcement of the peace terms
which they have dictated. based upon
the: victory which they have won.
| The United States, which, coming late
into the struggle. converted defeat into
victory, and which has played con-
spicuous part in shaping the peace
treaty of Paris. will never desert it's
conjunction with the allies to enforce
the peace terms which it has helped to
make. The impulse which carried the
United States into the world war will
not be spent until the purposes for
which the war was fought and for which
supreme sacrifices have been made, and
which are crystallized in the treaty of
peace, have been fully attained. This
victors' league will hold disarmed Ger
many for an underlined period under
bonds to keep the peace. 1t will serve
| as protector of the new nations created
by the treaty of Paris in the interest Of
enduring world peace. This continual
| tion for time Of the league of allied or
associated nations. whose armies. merg-
| ed and unified under a single comman nd.
| have won the war. is certain. Repudia-
| ton of it's war obligations under this
alliance by the United States is incon-
ceivable. Uncle Sam is not gutter.
Since this continuation of unification of
and is termed a league of nations. the
creation of this kind of a league of ma
tions is inevitable and to be desired.
a World Union, Perhaps.
But to many the league of nations"
means not victors' league. based
@ gpon tbs aggssga.ed strangth. Ia. sof e &
though underlined term Of existence,
but world league. a Federation or
Union of the World, permanent, indis-
soluble, based upon universal agree
ment, in which under the terms Of a
written constitution all civilized ma
tfnnS fn ha ronrQSpnfQd and "
which in specified particulars all ma
tions are to be controlled. 1t is this
league of nations which is bitterly
assai1ed as war-promoting instead of
as America is concerned: as uncon-
stitutional in shifting the war-power
from Congress to an alien body and
in subordinating and bruising 1.-The fine
strong spirit Of American. national
ity"; as compelling unnecessary and
hurtful sacrifices Of American sover-
eighty, and as coercing assent to vio-
lation or implied amendment of our
Constitution by making the world
union covenant an integral part of
war. by preventing separate consid-
Grafton and rejection. il desired. of
this covenant, and by compelling
those who abhor this covenant to ac-
odium of upsetting the world-peace
by rejecting the whole treaty of Paris.
The evil of the legislative rider upon
an appropriation bill. which cannot
be separately vetoed. is multiplied, mag
nified and intensified in a procedure
which. its critics say. presents hurt
full and obnoxious violation of the
United States Constitution as a rider
upon the treaty ending the world war
What Kind Of League Of NationsP
Thus the question: do you favor
league Of nations?" elicits not only
the affirmative response of those who
favor every kind Of league and the neg
ative response Of those who oppose
any kind Of league, but also the an
swer Of the multitude who say: Yes.
1 favor victors' league" and of that
other multitude who say: mo, I op-
pose the proposed world league" And
analysis will disclose that there are
thousands who answer both yes" and
cause they favor a victors' league and
at the same time oppose world
| league under the constitution tenta-
tlvAy framed at Paris.
In very man" of the league of na-
tions discussions of today there is
consequently no real issue involved,
for the league of nations which some
are assailing is not the league which
others are defending.
| "A general agreement ought to be
possible that the immediate urgent
duty in the interest of enduring peace
is by peace treaty to accomplish the
| complete military disablement of de-
| feated Germany coupled with reten-
| tion by the allied victors Gas a league
! Of nations) of sufficient force fmme-
| diately available to keep Germany
| disarmed and disabled; and that while
| it is also desirable at this time to Law
the broad foundations of prospective
| world league to enforce peace In the
remote future by universal agreement,
| it is highly undesirable to permit the
| creation of this world league to delay
J the signing of the peace treaty or to
hamper in any way the operations of
the victors' league which is to en-
| force peace under the treaty for the
present and near future.
Neither Coulter" Nor "sucker."
| Uncle Sam will neither play the
role Of "Quitter" nor permit himself to
be played as sucker" He will not
fail others or permit himself to be
imposed upon.
The United States will not demand
of Europe, Asia and Africa that it be
| permitted to surrender to the world
at large control Of American issues
which are vital to t and be compen-
stated by incurring the burden of
sponsibilities. in which it is. not
vitality concerned. The United States
will not, under the delusion that the
rest OF the world Is pleading for II
force upon other nations a world
constitution and world d-union which
neither we nor the rest Of the world
have decided to be desirable
On the other hand, there will be in
evidence a duty unmet and an on
portunity ignobly neglected il out Of
the worlds war-weariness and war
disgust and out of the victor-leaeue,s
| temporary control OF the worlds az
| fairs and out of this leagues power