The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1919-02-13
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Almost with his last breath Colonel
Roosevelt uttered word of admoni.
ton regarding the proposed league of
nations. Foreseeing the formidable
obstacles in the way of such league,
he advised against attempting too
much at first and suggested that the
confederation be. formed with only a
few Of the larger objects in view.
The advice may or may not be re-
quired at Versailles. The experts
there may have arrived at the same
cided that concert of powers which
attempts to regulate all international
activities will have essayed an i'm
possible task. In any event Roose-
velt's counsel will appeal to most of
us as containing the same perspicacity
of judgment that we observe in Wash
ington's farewell address. The con-
cert of powers may easily become a
Eopelessly entangling alliance for the
nations that join it, especially for the
United States which has the Monroe
doctrine on it's hands.
A supreme court of arbitration,
perfected body of international laws
for that tribunal to interpret and ad-
minister, together with an agreement
among the powers to abide by arbitra-
ton and Cooling time" treaties might
form an adequate foundation for a
broader agreement when some meas
ure of success has been achieved by
the league in it's actual operations.
Perhaps the most valuable feature
of preliminary agreement will be
the cooling time" stipulations. AL
ready many of these treaties, negoti-
ated by Mr.. Bryan, are in force. They
provide that before going to war each
nation shall wait a certain period and
meanwhile submit the points in dis
pute to arbitration. The greater the
number of nations brought within the
purview of such treaties the better.
The weakness of the cooling time"
treaty was evidenced at the begin
ming of the world war. No such agree
ment by itself is protection against
military power bent on aggression,
conquest and domination. A military
power strikes Unexpectedly and arbi-
trates only when it is defeated
But it is hoped that the league of
nations will be able to eliminate
powers which seek to prosper by war.
Whether this ideal can be attained
only the development of the leagues
operations will demonstrate. Nations
can be war powers thr>pgh great
navies as well as through great stand
ing armies.
Americans have viewed the league
of nations with misgivings because
they have seen it as body which
would be calling upon the United
States more or less frequently to en-
ploy it's army and navy in regulating
the affairs of the eastern hemisphere
They have feared that should such a
league be formed it would require the
abandonment of the Monroe doctrine
If we acknowledge that it is our duty
to use military pressure against the
people of the eastern hemisphere we
must admit the right and the duty OF
the powers in that hemisphere to en-
ploy military pressure against the ma
tions of our own hemisphere.
One way to obviate this difficulty
would be to incorporate the Monroe
doctrine as part of international
law and stipulate its recognition by
by the league of nations.
The idea OF the league, Of course,
contemplates that the league should
act only in accordance will, the prin-
ciples of justice, that it should always
represent the conscience of mankind
and that, in the course of centuries,
it would seldom commit an act OF in.
justice. But II everyone agreed upon
the application Of Justice there would
be no need of courts. A dispute can.
not arise so long is both sides agree
on the principles Of justice and their