The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1919-03-31

Senator Joseph Irwin France has
declined the challenge to debate the
league of nations constitution sent to
him two weeks ago by Henry W.
Williams, chairman of the executive
committee of the Maryland Branch
of the League to Enforce Peace.
The declination was found in a
lengthy letter from Senator France
to Mr.. Williams, letter which, Mr..
Williams remarked, was very cour-
teous, but 'as indefinite as it is
courteous
The letter touches on variety of
subjects, including internationalism,
pacifsm, Senator Philander G..
KnOx's speeches, Asiatic menace,
serious domestic problems and peace
and friendship as part of an af1irma-
tive plan, the latter phrase being one
which Mr.. Williams says he can't
get" But, among the many long
and involved sentences in the letter
is found one in which Senator France
states that 1T seems to ME that it
would be entirely profitless for us to
publicly discuss the ACCESSIBILITY OF
the adoption of this British plan for
a league of nations CHATS what Sen
: ator France called it on one of the
preceding pages of his lctrer) be-
cause the Senate would not consent
to its adoption in that FORM
THE result of the formation OF
such an armed coalition OF some Of
the powers says Senator France in
his letter, must inevitably be the
formation, in opposition Of the ex-
cluded nations into anothey' armed
coalition, the members eff which
would probably be Germany, Russia.
possibly China and even some other
of the Oriental nations whose inter-
ests are antagonistic to those of Wes-
tern Europe. Thus there would be
formed new and perilous balance
of power, with mutual jaalousies,
misunderstanding suspicious and
hatreds, all of which would tend to
invite another and perhaps a final
world disaster. Senator PhIlander c.
Knox, than whom there is not
more experienced, learned and far
sighted diplomat in the world, has
warned against this danger of divid-
ing the world once more into two
armed camps.
Il believed that the first step to-
ward the rehabilitation of the world
was the making of a just peace with
the enemy, and that then there
should be neffort made to bring
about closer cooperation between
the Republics of the Western hemis-
phere, after which world confer
eace could be called to consider the
possibility of a wider cooperation in
an effort to abolish war and to sub
stitute therefore affirmative policies
for the improvement of the condi-
tons now SO intolerable, III so many
places, throughout the world.
II have entertained the opinion
that permanent international order
cannot be secured without the es-
Enlistment first. of national stabili-
ty within the nations which are to
compose the league, which national
stability cannot be attained until
there shall be cured those conditions, !
promoting injustice. which are caus-
ing profound unrest. AS | urged the
prompt re-establishment of peace in
January, so 1 deemed it my duty, al !
SO. in March to plead for an extra |
session of the Congress in order that |
most serious domestic problems, |
causing unrest here, might be !
promptly dealt with
After analyzing and dissecting !
those sections OF Senator Frances )
letter, which he says he can under |
stand or get some definite idea from, |
Mr.: Williams said that he can come |
to only one conclusion regarding it. !
1T would appear, therefore, said |
Mr.. Williams, that Senator France, !
In stating that It is unnecessary to