New-York tribune., 1919-05-04
The Great Hope

i.75sSA great hope sustained and energized
those who fought the great war. The
new relations Of peoples were to provide
against the anachronism of war. A con-
flict which began in self-defence devel-
.oped into defence of the future. "Never
a.again!" The war was against war.
's1s 1t was recognized some sort of league
was desirable Nations were irrepeal-
able facts; the divided members of the
human family felt supreme allegiance
not to the whole but to beloved parts
The union must perforce rest on nations
sufficiently intelligent to perceive and
act according to common interests.
The objective was plain, but it's attain
ment difficult. Man is an animal of in
herent pugnacity and in crises is con-
r Trolled by fears of the alien. "What one
nation does not like in another nation
% is the other nation" Doctrinaires, find
xding explanations to suit preconceived
theories, put forward many calculations
of war. Particularly in vogue has been
the hypothesis of economic antagonsm.
This factor, Of course contributes, but
"a modern nation which draws the sword
,seldom serves it's economic interest: the
'Heause lies deeper-in instructive appre-
hension.
3Ht.-rv
a,,s If the great cause of war is such fear,
= and if only through organized union it
-'tfnay be allayed, it follows that to realize
the great hope league must be sup
ported by mutual confidence and be ac-
.cepted as willing and able to do justice.
particular instrument is before this
country, for approval or disapproval. Is
ofit step forward? Will it lessen the
oraanger of war? So complicated are the
~ matters which must be considered before
answering that judgments differ and in
the confusion, desparing of certain light.
large numbers look no further than
~rlabels.
The document itself manifestly does
not justify great faith. There is no
basic change. AS things now are, peace
prevails as long as the nations are unani-
nous for peace. The covenant confides
peace to the guardianship of a similar
11unanimity. For concert of action there
must be coincidence of opinion among
the nine members Of its executive COM
..smittee, each the agent of and RESPONSE
o-ble to his home government. Nations
not represented on the executive COM
mittee may possibly be coerced, but not
others. The chief nations NAV do as thew
please, as now.
1t may be definite gain that ambassa-
dors of the powers will come together in
one place, with conference more easy and
9 misunderstanding less likely. 1t NAV be
that Germany might not have launched
The war If it had been cornered into max
ing a plain answer when the Gar offered
10 go to The Hague. But when league
pf. peace is spoken of something more
than mere common meeting place of
ambassadors is generally meant
- It has been the duty of friends Of the
League Of peace idea to refuse to counte
;5pance misdescriptions of the covenant
aAnd to labor to secure improvements.
Happily they have had influence, and the
hew draft has chance of ratification.
while the original one did not. And the
Edufy to continue truth-telling still con-
"t1ofs. Illusions are still dangerous. The
idea must be combated that the league in
Egef guarantees peace
.-@a The covenant does not NEE, the great
= hope of the world. The great dream
passes. Peace depends on influences be-
Find and beyond the lcague--such things
bs mutual confidence among the part
xFers in the recent war. There must be
concert. or alliance, or entente, or a
common policy (use what narne YOU
spleese), among the democratic nations
:. 10 the east Of the Rhine is menacinv
sscommotlon. The only power now in the
World competent to guarantee orderly
EtvsIization and the reign of approx
mate Justice resides with t'a five na~
Hons. The league does not prevent these