The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-03-14
Scott hearings Editorials


Peace will not be established on
earth through The Word League
plan, read by President Wilson 10
the Peace Conference. The document
is a weak compromise that ignores
the vital factors underlying iDtelna-
tional relations.
The draft of the League Constitu-
ton is purely political document.
1t ignores economic factors entirely.
world that are asked to endorse the
League plan are interested primari-
ly in markets, shipping and invest
ments. The document contains no
reference to any of these subjects
and is, therefore, fundamentally in
complete. Commercial and finau-
cial rivalries will breed wars in the
future as they have bred them in
the past. This fact has been ar
knowledged by President Wilson; it
has been insisted upon by the Navy
League and preached for years by
leading economists all over the
world, yet the League Constitution
does not cover economic questions.
A political document Of this char
acter might had had some reason
for existence in 1915. Today, it is an
archaism.
The plan is faulty in other import
ant respects. First, it is undemo-
cratic. Treaties are not to be pub
lished till after they are made
the processes of diplomacy are still
secret. There is no provision for the
democratic selection of the members
of the delegate body. Under the
Constitution as drawn, all of them
may be appointed by the Govern
ments. The people may have no
voice in choosing them. Again, out
of the nine votes of the Executive
Council, five are to belong perman-
emily to"9he United States, France.
Italy, Great Britain and Japan. In
short, the decision of the League
may all be reached by hand-picked
diplomats of the old school from the
big five allied nations.
The plan is arbitrary. It contains
no provisions for and no suggestion
of self-determination- Ireland In
dia, the Philippines and China will ne
no freer after the plan is adopted
than before it was drafted.
The plan is imperialistic. The
"big five" are to take the German
Colonies in addition to their present
| possessions. ; The allied empires will
still be empires. '.-.,-.-
The plan is weak. It takes no
stand on the question of ornaments,
| other than to state that they mus.
| be "fair" and REASONABLE" Evident
" the number of the "big five" are
not yet ready to "bury the Ratchet
The plan is ineffective. No ade-
quate means are provided for the
enforcement of the Leagues deci-
| sions. The organization contemplate
ed is weaker than that OF the Thir-
teen Colonies under the Articles of
Confederation. n -
The League plans is a political
treaty of the oldiyariety, providing
for a continuation Of the alliance
among the victorious Allies. This
alliance will inevitably force a de-
fensive alliance of Russia, Germans
and the other socialist countries OF
Europe, so that the world will be
arrayed in two camps-capitalist
nations against socialist nations. II
is this Class conflict alone that WI.
hold the League together. Lacking
such a compelling motive, the plan
will hold until commercial and fin
| ancial rivalries among the members
of the League grow bitter and sharp
Then like thousands of similar trea-
ties, this one will go into the dis
card while the world busies itself
with the next great war.