South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-17
Sec. Lane Appeals
For Support of the
Presi dents Plan


NEW YORK. Jan. 17.-Appealing
FOR the support OF Pres't Wilson's
idea OF a league OF nations by the
business men OF the United States,
declaring that the presidents plan
would in no way invalidate the Mon
roe doctrine. and that Mr. Wilson
had gone 10 Europe mot as a con-
queror but for the healing Of the
nations" Franklin K. Lane, secre-
tary OF the interior. in an address
here today before the merchants
association Of New York. gave an
outline Of what the fundamental
elements OF such a league must
be" It's basis. ne asserted, will be
international cooperation"
Mr.. lanes address was previously
advertised by the association as be-
ing an answer 20 the question.
What is that Pres't Wilson has
gone TO Paris 20 bring about? How
will II preserve peace and help hu-
manity2"
Mr.. Lane explained how through
the formation OF a league Of nations.
quarrels between nations could be
adjudicated by IAN international
court following investigation OF
the case by an international coun-
Gil OF mediation" how a "delin-
quent" nation could be encompass
ed by a circle OF IRON" completely
shutting of its economic life and
isolating il from the rest OF the
world; how. II this failed, the mem
bers Of the league Of nations could
as a last resort, turn 70 war
The speaker declared that Pres't
Wilson had gone TO Europe as a rep
resentative OF an ideal Of the states
men Of many centuries and ne re-
counted the struggles for democ-
racy from ancient 10 modern times
lie said the time seemed propitious
for this association Of nations; that
when the war ended II was costing
the United States $50, 900 900 "A day.
and that the burden was borne by
your sons and mine" America, and
all the world. ne said. was now past
the age OF the pioneer and now the
time had come "to master continents
intensively for the good OF men"
unreasonable, said the secretary.
'or that all wars have no justifca-
ton. Ny feeling is that we cannot
devise any machinery between men
by which conflict will be stopped;
but It is unreasonable, certainly IN
90 per cent OF the cases where ma
tions go 10 war. that they should
make war upon each other. for the
reason that II gets no where. II will
not stand the pragmatic test; IL does
not work; II does not solve the diff
hculty in the end"
Forty different plans" he con-
tinued. have been presented to the
American delegation in congress for
a league OF nations. I suppose those
30 will be multiplied by 10 before
This conference is concluded. This
thing must be in the very nature OF
the things a growth. but want TO
present to you the possibility Of the
things so that you may not believe
Il is a thing utterly in the air.
Now. international law is filmy
gauzy, founded upon precedent with
out certainty, decision or definite
ness. Suppose that the council had
the power 10 take into its own hand
an effort. first TO Esquire as to what
the trouble between nations may be;
second. TO make an effort at concili-
alton; third, to bring about arbitra-
ton. IL possible; fourth, to call upon
the nations to encompass the delin-
quent and make its social and eco
nomic life impossible: and, fifth, as
a last resort, 10 bring about war"