The sun., 1919-01-19

lshed and unpublished correspondence
uetWecn our Government and GREAT
britain ana the Netherlands. relating 70
n many "a yet unsettled disputes, would
MI volume and require weeks. ~ not
,aon,hs. or exhaustive investigation and
80 usslon. great service could. there
Iore, be rendered to humanity If these
controversies, for instance. were 10 he
nhaiiy determined and the relative rigbtr
| ana obligations OF the disputants under
| International law were to be now
oennitely fixed by international agree
ment. "s'ee
Although human nature has been
PROFOUNDLY stirred by the horrors and
outiaTry Of this war, we cannot as-
sumo that It has been radically changed.
mere are numerous questions likely to
create confiicting interests, controversial.
seinsh and unreasonable demands We
nave our own imperative problems OF
immigration. tariff, reciprocity, &c, and
we must reserve the right to decide them
for ourselves. >N'
We should not forget that economic
uIio racial considerations at times over
.hrow reason and abstract Justice, which
we found to be the case when II be-
came necessary for US to violate a treaty
win China, as evidenced by the opiri-
icns OF the Supreme Court In the fa-
nous Chinese exclusion case. Would
we then have tolerated any foreign in
.errerence or dictauon or any attempts
rorcioly to compel US to admit Asiatios
srst tne protests OF our own people :?
lhat question should answer itself.
The possible occasions for differences
on our part even with England and
france are many. We may have acute
controversies with our neighbors to the
south. 1t Is impossible to foresee what
the future holds In store for us. But IL
history teaches Americans any lesson.
surely II Is that our situation Is UNIQUE,
and that we should hesitate long before
deliberately vesting In foreigners the
right to dictate our national or interna-
tional policy or conduct, and should
nrmiy refuse to run the risk OF becom-
Ing involved in the local quarrels of
Europe, Africa and Asia.
American interests and American
honor may draw US into particular con-
troversies between foreigners, and we
may take sides In pending disputes, as
IN the present war but let US always re-
tain freedom OF action and bear in mind
the fundamental distinction between
temporary adventures and alliances, ad-
visedly and intelligently entered upon
from time to time on their merits, and a
permanent alliance such as many pro-
pose under the title Of league Of ma
tons. which would bind US to act under
circumstances beyond our power to fore
see or control Tho distinction Is as
broad as the ocean, and Is as vital to-
day as It was in the days Of Washington
and Hamilton.
International Law,
Many urge that the war has demon
strated. as some phrase It, that interna-
tonal law cannot operate effectively In
the absence OF q preponderant military
force 10 compel obedience to its rules
The arguments In support Of this view
generally cite the fact that Germany and
the Central Powers Violated and defled
all the rules Of international law. ami
that the German Emperor. with the CON
currence Of his Chancellor. declared to
Ambassador Gerard in May, 1916. that
there was no longer any international
law.
But no declaration on the part OF
the Germans could overthrow interna-
tional law. any more than the declara-
tons OF any band OF prates, outlaws
or rioters could overthrow municipal
law. AS a matter Of fact, notwithstand-
Ing the action and declaration of Ger
many, the established rules of interns-
uonaa law were never more generally
recognized, insisted upon and observed
among civilized states than at the pres
ent time and during the past four and
a half years.
Was it not indignatio at the brutal
and reckless disregard OF international
law by Germany and her allies tina.
soiidified and animated the conscience
of the civilized world and united TWEEN
ty-two free nations against them? Was
It not the repeated violations OF inter-
national law that brought us into the
war? Was II not in defence of our
rights under international Law that the
American army ana the American navy
have fought and sacrificed? Was It not
just reese ntment OF the savage disregard by
Germany and her allies OF all the hui
name rules OF international law that in
spired the patriotic spirit of our whole
people and made possible the den on
STATIONS Of national unity and effort
that still thrill and exal: all Amer cans?
I'VE went to war in order to uphold
and enforce international law: and the
victory we are celebrating is the vindi-
cation of International law. 1t is rea-
sonably certain that no power will dare
n the future to affront the conscience
Of the world by repudiatins or violating
the established principles and rules OF
International law. And no league OF
7ations with a military force at Ns
command can make this any more APP
parent.