Evening star., 1919-04-29

'1mperialism isjnperialisn, whether
it be joint or single: and it is not
a business that tends toward democ-
racy or toward justice. Even in its
purity and at it's best estate it is
dangerous enterprise for a free peo-
pie to engage in, and it is more dan
gerous than ever when innocence and
good intention become the partners of
seasoned experience in game for
power"
Such was the conclusion reached by
DR.. David Jayne Hill, former ambas-
sador to Germany, in his address on
The Corporate Character of the
League of Nations" delivered before
4 meeting held under the auspices of
George Washington University in the
Memorial Continental Hall, 18th and D
streets northwest, yesterday afternoon.
Dr. Hill is to lecture on ''The Treaty
Making Power Under the Constitution of
the United States at 4 As o'clock at the
same place this afternoon.
DIR. Hill undertook to show that the
league, as q distinct corporate entity,
exercising a will not identical with
that of the separate members. is or
ganized with power to coerce other
states not belonging to it, act under
its own rules and by its own judg
ment, "and even to dictate the form of
government and degree of authority
to be exercised over wide areas and
great populations subjected to it's con-
troll Whatever antiquities the
league of nations document may con-
tain, the speaker declared, land they
are many" he said, upon these SUBJ
Jects 1t is unequivocal.
Tribute to Justice Stafford.
DR.. Hill paid tribute to Justice
Stafford of the Supreme Court of
the District in the course of his ad-
dress. perhaps the most important
emphasized by those who have dis
cussed this project of a league" DR..
Hill said, sis the legal Interpretation
of this document made by Mr.. Justice
Stafford of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia, in his discrim-
stitution. He finds it to be, as the
word constitution itself implies, not
merely a treaty of alliance or agree
ment to preserve peace, but the crea-
ton of a corporate entity possessing
not only advisory, but strictly gov
these powers may come into conflict
with those of the separate govern
ments that enter into the league"
Says League Is er-Government.
'It is evident that the league created
by this constitution is not merely
corporate entity. but in effect a super
government" DR.. Hill declared. He
said: l.- ~
I'VE are here confronted with the
question, whether or not the league,
as proposed, offers any promise Of be-
ing really effective. Between free
self-governing nations ON the one
hand and super-government on the
other, there is no intermediate con-
dition. no third alternative. 1t is a
case of what the logicians call 'ex-
cluded middle 1t is a choice between
free and not free
'"There is, no doubt, a possible case
of international understanding which
does not involve this dilemma A
declaration Of principles, with a SOL
emn pledge to support them, does not
create a Super-goyernment,a and would
leave the nations making the declara-
tion free. But there is in this consti-
tuition no such declaration. The deter
mination to treat persistently turbu-
lent or aggressive states as public
enemies. and to declare that they
should be suppressed, would involve
no limitation of natiesal freedom. An
trate justiciable differences. not to
make war upon one another without
cause, and to submit what they be-
lieve to be just causes to examination
and mediation. would involve no
of sovereignty.
"a combination of all these cove
nants.' if one chooses to call them by
this name, would be a durab BILE and eff
fective entente of free nations; that
is, mutual understanding and agree
ment that certain principles are to be
sacredly respected and defended, leav-
ing the decision OF the manner of ac-
tion to the participants in view of the
that may arise.