Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-03-12

league. Then, too, it is not stated with sufficient clearness that lea que member is not required to be- come a mandatory. It ought to be definitely stated that nation asked to become a mandatory is at liberty to accept or decline. Again it should be made clear that the league is not to interfere in the international affairs of the nations belonging to the league. The league is for settlement of international disputes, not for the adjustment of differences between a nation and it's own people. ~
 Nations To Decide.
 Another matter that should be made clear-and nothing can be more important than this--is that each na- tion has right to decide for itself whether it will undertake the things advised by the general council. The language . of the constitution. while. not de1lnite, would seem to indicate that no nation is required to furnish force to back up a decision of the council. But no doubt should be left on this subject. This nation cannot afford to allow council in which it has so small voice to carry it into war against it's will. Our people will have as much sense when the time comes to act as they have now and they will have more light to guide them. When the emergency arises and they understand all the circum- stances and conaltlons, they may be wllnng to assist by force, but they cannot decide in advance or call a council to decide for them.
 Could Compel Boycott
 "The constitution of the league would seem to imply the right of the council to. compel the declaration of an economic boycott by the members oof the league. This is not quite so serious as the declaration of war, but economic boycott is likely to develop into a war and an economic boycott may be pecuniarily advantageous to the nations that want to declare it.. Our interests may not be identical in this respect, and we ought to have a right to say at the time whether. we would declare such a boycott
 "I venture to suggest that the scope of the leagues work might we'll be extended beyond what is now contem- plated. A substitute for war must be able to deal with every situation that can become cause of war. One of the most fruitful causes of war has been the necessity for expansion. Growing nations feeling the necessity for more room, have often gone to war on some clumsy pretext when the real purpose has been to secure ter ritory for an increasing population. The right to live is one of the inalien. able rights. It is primal right that must be recognized in nations as well as individuals.
 1 Can Distribute Land.
 Nations exercise the right of talk ing unused land and distributing il among those who need it. So, if the league of nations is to substitute req. son for war, it must be able to dea
 with claims that are made for the waste places of the earth. A natior
 feeling need for more territory
 should be able to go before the league and present it's claims and point out the territory which it can use to ad
 vantage. The council should consider
 the claim and advise it and the fore.
 of public opinion should be used tt
 secure such an adjustment of equities as would afford peaceable means o
 securing needed territory. Such ad
 justments could be made the easier ii the league endorsed the proposition that any nation extending its sover
 eighty over new territory should
 stand ready to purchase the propert, of residents who do not desire to re main under the new sovereignty. Tn, ; resident does not go with the land
 He has rights independent and su
 perior to the right to the land l
 against his will, he is brought unde
 new sovereignty, he ought to be abl,
 to sell his property without loss, ant chose q sovereignty of his own like. Must Take Risks.
 "I have suggested what seemed t, me to be desirable changes, some be : ing notifications, some being merel,
 more explicit statements. conclud as 1 began, that while we should en
 deayor to make the league as nearl, perfect as possible, we should not al
 low it's impcrfections to lead to it's re
 jeclion. We must take risks no mat ter whether we accept the league 0 reject it. The risks that we take il accepting it, are less than the ris we take if we reject it and turn bac to the old ways of blood and slaugh ter. God grant that those who ar entrusted with the launching of thi great work may have the wisdom t so purge it of selfishness and greco l and so infuse into it the spirit of tn prince of peace as to make it the en : of war"
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