The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-10
STATUS Of PEACE
PROGRESS CANNOT
B"EEXPRESSEDY YET
As Time for Wilson's Return
to U. S. Draws Nigh Present
Atmosphere Is Still One Of
Expectation.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Special Gable Dispatch 70 The New
Scimltar.

draw to a close, the status of the ne
g~Otiation for world peace can not pc
expressed in definite terms, because the
atmosphere is still one OF expectation
rather than of performance. Neverthe-
less, the spirit which has hus far been
fundamental is regarded by every dele
CATION as certain to bring about an
absolute agreement among the associ-
ated powers.
Mr.. Wilson will take back to America
a draft for the league OF nations which
will have the approval of the princi-
pal powers. Insofar as he insisted that
the league be discussed first, Mr.. Will
son won his point. AS for the league
itself, the early opposition treated more
of form than the idea, n it is now
recognized that the strong feature Of
the league is that its instrumentality
about to be created on which all agree
father than the lukewarm Hague con-
ventions for which the individual ma
tons made specific reservation.
The big fact is that while the league
itself may not satisfy the doubts and
apprehension of many critics as to eff
ficacy, it will establish a permanent
clearing house for international affairs,
where special ambassadors, always in
attendance, will prevent disputes ever
reaching an acute stage. For the sub
mission of controversies. arbitration,
mediation, or investigation probably will
not be obligatory after all, but will
nave equivalent sanction, because the
league itself will recommend the use
of such tribunals, and any state that
inVades territory OF another before war
is actually authorized, through admit
ted inability OF the league 60 discover
some way TO compose the dispute, will
be declared TO have committed an Nn-
friendly act against all membets Of the
league.
Up to Each One.
Then it will become the duty Of each
member to decide for itself how to act
and whether It should use economic boy.
colt, financial pressure. or military and
naval force.
IN other words, with international
concert airing disputes with the fullest
knowledge OF the peoples OF the world
and with machinery provided for annie
able settlement, conviction Is absolute
among various delegations here, that
war will be made VeSy difficult, IL moi
impossible, for the next few years a.
the memory of the sacrifices made dur
ing the late wal will keep the public
alive TO the necessity Of a ConCiliatory
settlement OF disputes.
During the next five years, while tn
world is unlikely to go to war. It /
work gradually 20 revise provisions @
the league in direction OF making l
stronger and creating more binding i'm
lpediments to war. As Lord Robert &c
ell said 20 me the other day, We mus
admit, after all, the league Of nation
is a tremendous experiment"
From this, IL may be seen n a how
ever radical American and British dele
cations may have been in their de
sire to avert a war IN future by re
strictiVe provisions, they could no
hope 70 get universal agreement, bu
nodded their plans to meet unanirnou
desires OF the nations present. Thi
means such questions as disarmament
Even the size Of standing armie
can not for the present be standardized
because, until the faith in the kind @
league established and the first ties
case is made, the nations will be dis
posed TO rely on special military agree
ments or precautionary arrangement,
Thus I find no JAPANESE or British req
resentatives arguing for he abandon
rnent\ Of the AnRlo-Japanese ailianc,
On the contrary, the French writer's n
tary agreement with England to pre-
tect against possible emergency.
Agreements Valid.
Private agreements will be valid onl
IL consistent with the general peac
treaty, similarly. all previous agree
Il inconsistent with the forthcomin
peace treaty. SO, while some nation
in Europe will make special defens
agreements which they will be require
to publish, the United States undoubt
eddy will make no agreement for do
Tense. but continue the development
her navy together with a substantii
army.
There is no mystery in Mr.. Wilson
message to congress advocating a nav;
appropriation, but It is simply a rec
ord OF the fact that disarmament
unachieved, and America can not al
ford TO pause until absolute inferno
tional agreement has been actual
reached regarding armament. On II
other hand, when the time comes
disarm, the nation which will ha,
small force will not demand as niue
attention as the country possessing II
same and willing TO end building.
Anyone who expected an abrur
change IN the condition OF the worl
or the point Of view toward armamer
as the hest basis OF security, complete
ly misunderstood the point, which wa
fundamentally recognised by the ma
tons themselves. namely, the ,proce'
must be gradual TO be effective an
carry conviction. Therefore, the leaRl
OF nations, which, when completed. W
be the most remarkable advance u
world has yet made toward avertir
war. will be embraced here as the fir
step OF the new international orde
but none Of the conferees with who
talked today, gave the impressic
that they will consider their work con
plete with this peace treaty.
II seems now that when the leaR1
is created and Q preliminary peace
a general character signed with &c
many, providing PREPARATION and 9th
limitations Of her developments. plal
for further action Will be transfer,
to Geneva where the league will tai
up many questions left unsettled /
the peace conference, such as bounda
les, local quarrels, and The larger que
ton Of disarmament, and the revisit
i of laws of the sea, the land and Il
, air.
Every American who has been
- Europe in attendance can not but
impressed with the fact that Americs
part in the making of peace has be,
as noble, generous and altruistic
the spirit of her participation in t
war. Europe thinks better of Amerit
looking to her not merely as the mo-
stimulus in a tangled situation, but
a physical assistance in an econon
way and in r~econstructing the damag
continent.
Copyright, 1919. by the New York Ev
Ill ming Post. 1nc,)