The Washington herald., 1919-04-20
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

The statesmen have then been forced
to devise some means of limiting the
chances of war, and they have pre-
sented US with the league of nations
as the panacea for the ills of the
times
Arouses Criticism.
aroused criticism. the basis Of which
has varied in almost every country.
This Is quite natural, for 1t Is impos-
sible that a covenant which is intend
ed to embrace all nations should meet
the peculiar needs and circumstances
Of each one. have no intention Of
attempting to advise the public of the
United States on the political prob
lens which they are today discussing;
that would be an impertinence upon
my part. But I may say that I have
found on arrival here a very different
atmosphere from that which I was led
In Europe to expect. I believed that
a very strong body of opinion in the
United States. representing probably
the majority of the people. was op-
posed to participation in the league of
nations. now ind after visiting
many OF the principal cities in the
East, after many talks with leading
men of all parties, that there Is a
great volume OF sentiment In favor OF
league OF nations; that criticism
centers around certain paragraphs of
the draft constitution OF the league.
There Is. as there is In Great Britain
and in France, objection to the idea
of the league in toto, but so far.
though my experience has necessarily
been limited, have not come across
Nh1 10
rather to explain the basis of such
opposition as exists both in Great
Britain and in France.
The opponents of the league In
Great Britain are in a very distinct
minority. They come in the main
from that class which Is constitu-
tionally opposed to change and re-
gard any novelty with suspicion.
Their chief cry Is that the league Is
a deep design by President Wilson to
shield Germany from the penalty for
her crimes and to rob Great Britain
of the fruits of her victory. 1t is
dangerous only in its appeal to popu-
lar passion at a time when passion
Is easily aroused. And IN its tend
ency to delay. by fostering anti
American sentiment, the tightening
of the bands which unite the British
and American peoples. This one dis
cordant note is now to be regretted.
because I am convinced that where
our armies have been closely associ-
ated in the field. where our admins
traitors and business men have been
brought into closer touch by events
arising out of the prosecution of the
war, the result has been to promote
a better understanding than has ever
before existed in our history. The
great bulk of the people in Great
Britain are, I believe, in favor Of a
league OF nations not because they
look to it to secure our position in
the world, but because they see no
alternative save a return to the old
method of diplomacy and armament.
as to which they are completely dis
illusioned. For the first time in his
tory Great Britain has learned the
meaning of war conducted by a ma
ton in arms and Is Mortified by her
experience. There is hardly a family
throughout the length and breadth
of the land which has not paid its
toll Actually the death roll of the
British Empire during the war equals
approximately the total number OF
American soldiers who have taken
part in battle. In each case the fig
ures, according to best information
which I have been able TO obtain.
como to Just under ], 100000 men. The
United States had, of course. far
more men than this in France when
the armistice was signed.
There were large bodies of Ameri-
can troops ready and waiting to
engage and great numbers en-
ployed upon the administrative
services of our armies, but i be-
lieve the figures 1 have given repre-
sent roughly the number of men
who actually took part in the fight
ing. Life is the supreme sacrifice
of which man can make. Greater
love hath no man than this that he
lay down his life" and it is the
price in blood which We have paid
which has affected the sentiment of
the British people far more than
discomforts, drastic changes in So
ciaI life and expenditures OF treas
Ure. The British people. disguised
with war, are looking hopefully
and eagerly to some change in in
tcrnational relations which will at
least make war more difficult in
the future than it has been in the
of the draft constitution of the
league as first presented than have
been the publics either in France
or on this side because the sur
render of the German fleet has
made them feel safe and therefore
they do not consider that there is
any immediate and pressing need
for providing security against
aggression. and because being ac-
customed to a constitution which
has slowly broadened down from
precedent to precedent they are
more prepared than 1 find people
here to be to regard the draft as
a foundation susceptible to altera-
tion and Improvement than as a fin
ished building.
In France, on the other hand,
there has been a demand for secu-
rlty first and foremost ever since
the peace conference assembled.
When we consider that the losses
of France have been far greater in
life than those of Great Britain and
in property beyond all comparison,
this demand is perfectly natural
almost the whole of the French
criticism of the league of nations in
France has been designed to prove
first that the league of nations is
delaying the settlement with Ger
many and secondly that the league
will not provide France with the
guarantees which she must have.
The first criticism is I believe sup
ported by a great volume of public
opinion. / am not prepared to say
that the attempt to frame a consti-
tuition for the league has delayed
the preparation of the preliminaries
of peace with Germany. 1t had not