The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-02
>NOX WARNS SENATE LEAGUE CHARTER WILL BETRAY u. S.

IL DID N
ture worldwide war, greater than any
which has gone before. than any other
document in the history OF recorded
time
81 have already pointed out that the
covenant provides for three sorts OF
States; first, 'signatories' OF the cove
nant; second. protocol States and third,
outcast States which ! take II are the
Central Powers and their allies.
Now It Is unnecessary to labor an
argument to show that the inevitable re-
suit of outlawing the Central States will
be to drive them more closely together
for mutual self-protection, and that this
In turn will make the formation OF
second League of Nations almost an as
sured certainty. 1t may we'll be that
this second league will not at the out
set be constituted with all the formali-
ties which mark the one we have under
consideration, but in all human prob
ability such a league will be somehow
formed, by informal understanding or
otherwise, and when SO formed Will bid
for the adherence to 1t OF neutral
States. We would thus have in no dis
tant future two great leagues OF nations.
each preparing for a new and greater
life and death struggle. Our only es-
cape from this result, under this plan'
would be through the exercise or sucn
a tyrannlcal despotism over the peoples
Of the Central Powers as we, with all
our traditions and ideals. must not be-
come party to, for 1t would be violative
of all of those human rights for which
our fathers fought and which our own
gti MI
keep peoples in such a state OF sub
lection as would be necessary to OBJ
viate the result above pointed out
would require such an expenditure or
effort, treasure and blood as never would
be permanently tolerated by our people.
Thus the plan proposed, instead OF being
n plan by which the permanent peace OF
the world would be assured. becomes
plan under which a constant warfare or
a potential great worldwide confiagration
becomes an assured fact.
Coalition of Picked Powers.
TN other words this plan. as the pre-
scriptions OF the document demonstrate,
Is in effect merely an offensive and de-
fensive alliance between certain picked
Powers as between themselves. and
coalition among them as against the
balance of the world and this coalition
is formed with an avowed and published
purpose to impose upon the stranger
Powers the will of the coalition, not
merely in matters relating to the pre-
vention Of war but In all other matters
In which the conduct OF the stranger
powers affect the members OF the
coalition. This is tyranny. nothing more
nothing less. Has history ever an
swered an attempt 10 do this thing save
in one way and has that way ever
spelled anything but disaster for the
coalition? Ia such a proposal not mon
strous, and II so can 1t have our sup
port7 Must our every effort not be to
avoid so dividing the world into two
warning camps? In what respect will
the situation so formed differ from that
created by the centuries old doctrine Of
balance of power. save only that now for
the first unhappy time in our history
we are to be placed In one side OF the
balance?
But It is said. this is all merely
potential, It may not happen. and there
fore the league should not for that be
condemned
Grant this. for the sake of argument
What then?
"In the first place, the league plan
still regards war as legal and as possible
In the following more obvious cases:
First. Under Article II, II two OF
the High Contracting Parties have a
dispute which is submitted to arbitra-
tion and with the award OF which
neither party Is satisfied they may
properly go to war after an interval OF
three months from the date of the award.
War Last Arbitrament.
Second. Under the same article. II
there is a like dispute between like
parties. and the matter Ia submitted
TO the Executive Council which makes a
, recommendation which neither party ie
willing to accept. then the parties may
| after three months properly go to war.
Third. Under Article 10, II a dispute
goes either to the Executive Council
or the Body OF Delegates, and either
body gives a decision unanimous, ex-
cept as to the parties in dispute, and
this decision Is unacceptable TO both
parties TO the dispute then they may
| legally go TO war.
Fourth 1t would seem. under the
same article, that II neither the Exec
utive Council nor the Body OF Dele
gates can reach n decision which is
unanimous except for the parties to the
dispute that then the parties thereto
may legally go to war.
Fifth. All the conflicts between
States not members OF the League would
| under the covenant appear TO be legal
! under the covenant, though the League
declares It's right and intention to inter-
fere in them II It desires.
Sixth. The High Contracting Par
ties may take a hand in any war under
the stipulations OF Article II. that ANY
war or threat OF war, whether imme-
! diately affecting any OF the High Con-
tracing parties or not, Is hereby de-
clared matter OF concern to the
League, and the High Contracting Par
ties reserve the right to take any ac-
ton that may be deemed wise and eff
fectual to safeguard the peace OF ma
t!ons.'
Seventh. Under the provisions Of
Articles II, IL and 16 disputes between
, States members OF the League and
States not members OF the League may
lead 20 legal wars either between the
two States themselves or between the
disputants Zone or both) and the League.
or the High Contracting Parties.
Must Go to War.
'In all OF these cases tho covenant
recognizes the legality Of a state OF war.
But the covenant goes way beyond this
and provides for and requires that In
= efaih ~ reaching controversk the
parties must go 10 war. Without at
tempting to epell out from this instru-
ment the full number OF cases in which
war is mandatory l confine myself to
three:
First. By this document we, rs one
OF the High Contracting Parties. obi
gate ourselves to preserve, by force OF
arms II necessary, the territorial integ-