The state herald., 1919-07-18

ana common cOunsei among tne gov
ernments to which the world was look.
ing to enforce justice and give pledges
Of an enduring settlement, regions
like the Saar basin could not be put
under temporary administrative re
gime which did not involve transfer
of political sovereignty and which
contemplated final determination Of
Its political connections by popular
vote to be taken at distant date;
no free city like Danzig could be Gre
ated which was under elaborate inter
national guarantees to accept excep-
tional obligations with regard to the
use Of Its port and exceptional rela-
tlons with state Of which It was not
to form part; properly safeguarded
plebiscites could not be provided for,
where populations were at some fu-
ture date to make choice what sover-
eighty they would live under; no GER
tain and uniform method Of arbitra.
tion could be secured for the settle
ment Of anticipated difficulties Of final
decision, with regard to many matters
dealt with In the treaty itself; the
long continued supervision Of the task
Of reparation which Germany was to
undertake to complete within the next
generation might entirely break down /;
the reconsideration and revision Of ad-
m'nistrative arrangements and restric-
tions which the treaty prescribed. but
which 1t was recognized might not
prove Of lasting advantage or entirely
fair II too long enforced. would be i'm.
practicable.
A league Of free nations had become
practical necessity. Examine the
treaty Of peace, and you will find that
everywhere throughout its manifold
provisions Its trainers have felt obliged
to turn to the League Of Nations as an
Indispensable instrumentality for the
maintenance Of the new order II has
been their purpose to set up in the
world, the world Of civilized men.
That there should be a League of
Nations to steady the counsels nnd
maintain the peaceful understanding
OF the world. to make, not treaties
alone. but the accepted principles of
international law as well, the actual
rule Of conduct among the govern
ments of the world. has been one Of
the agreements accepted from the first
as the basis Of peace with the central
powers.
War statesmsn Agreed.
The statesmen Of all the belligerent
countries were agreed that such n
league must be created to sustain the
settlements that were to be effected.
But Mt first think there was feel.
ing among some Of them that. while
1t must be attempted. the formation OF
such league was perhaps counsel
OF perfection which practical men
long experience In the world Of affairs.
must agree to very cautiously and
with many misgivings.
II was only as the difficult work OF
arranging an all but universal adjust
ment Of the worlds affairs advanced
from day to day. from one stage OF
conference to another, that It became
evident to them that what they were
seeking would be little more thar
something written upon paper. to b,
interpreted and applied by such meth
DDS rs the chances Of politics might
make available, II they did not provide
a means Of common counsel which ali
were obliged to accept, u common au
thority whose decisions would be rec
ognized as decisions which all mus,
respect.
skeptieai Turn To League.
And 80 the most practical. the mosi
skcptical among them turned more
and more to the league as the author
lty through which international actor
was to be secured. the authority with
out which. us they had come to see II
It would be difficult to give assured
effect to this treaty or to any other In
ternational understanding upon which
they were to depend for the mninic
nance Of peace.
The most practical Of the con
ferees were at last the most ready
to refer to the league OF nation,
the superintendance Of all interests
which did not admit Of immediate
determination Of all administrative
problems which were to require a
continuing oversight. What had
seemed II counsel Of perfection hnd
come to seem plain counsel Of neces
sity. The league Of nations was the
practical statexnnn's hope Of success
In many Of the most difficult thing
he was attempting.
And II had validated itself In the
thought Of every member OF the con.
ference as something much bigger
much greater every way thnn mere
instrument for carrying out the pro
visions OF n particular treaty. II was
universally recognized that all The
peoples Of the world demanded Of the
conference that II should create such
continuing concert Of free nations
ms would make wars Of aggression
and spolintion. such ms this that has
| inst enIcd foreyer Ifnnoxsihle A cry