The sun., 1919-03-31
ROOT CALLS LEAGUE PACT ARBITRATION SCRAP HEAP


! man who has ever taken that view. and
cannot help feeling that such view
results from insufficient acquaintance
with the subject !
There has, however, arisen In these :,
days for the American people pow
erful secondary interest in the anairs
of Europe coming from the fact that
| war In Europe and the Near East threat
| ems to involve the entire world. and the
lpeaceable nations of Europe need outside
help to put out the FIRE. and keep II
from starting again. That help to pre-
serve peace we ought to give. and that
help We wish TO give.
| Real Reason for League.
"In agreeing to give It. the following
considerations should be observed:
I'VE are not asking, and do not need. !
any help from the nations of the Old |
| World for the preservation of peace IN ,
America, nor 10 any American nation
asking for such help. The difficulties. !
the disturbing conditions, the dangers
that threaten, are all in the affairs of /
Europe and the Near East. The real
reason for creating a League OF Ma
tons Is TO deal with those difficulties
and dangers. not with American affairs /
It is. therefore. wholly unnecessary Tor
the purpose OF the league that purely !
American affairs should be Included
within the scope OF the agreement
when we enter into the League OF
Nations we do go not with any desire
to interfere in the concerns OF foreign
nations, but because tho peaceable ma
tons of Europe ask us to put our power
behind theirs to preserve peace in their
part of the world. 1t is not reasonable.
therefore. that such participation as we
agree TO in the activities Of the league
should be made the basis OF an INFER
ence that we are trying to interfere IN
the Old World. and therefore should
abandon our objection to having the
Old World interfere in America.
with reference to the most important
American questions. Europe as whole
on one side and the United States on
the other occupy positions which how
over friendly are nevertheless in oppo-
sit!on. It must be remembered that the
League OF Nations contemplates tho
membership not only OF our present al
, lies. but ultimately OF all the nations OF
Europe. Now. the Monroe Doctrine was
declared against those nations OF
Europe. 1t was a warning to them not
to trespass on American territory and
admitting exceptions and speaking only
in the most general way, the nations
OF Europe are on one side Of that aues-
! ton and the United States Is on the
other. To submit the policy Of Monroe
, to 8 council composed chiefly OF Euro
, pean Powers Is to surrender II.
Z would he n Surrender.
I 81 will add-without taking up space
20 discuss it-that I cannot escape the
! conclusion that 20 ratify this agreement
: as Il now stands would itself be q sur
I render of the Monroe Doctrine, and that
! the agreement as It now stands gives
I to the United States no effective sub
stitute for the protection which the
maintenance OF that doctrine affords.
The same thing Is true Of immgra-
ton. The nations of Europe in general
: ,ors nations from which eTnigrants go.
v The United States Is a nation to which
immigrants come. Apart from Great
I Britain. which would be bound to look
after the similar interests Of Canada
and Australia, Europe and America are
bound to look at questions Of emigra-
: ton and immigration from different
l points Of view and under the influence
: OF different Enthusiastically indeed.
: but opposing.
2 at hardly seems reasonable that un-
4 der these circumstances the United
Il, States should be penalized for comply
|, ing with the request of It's friends in
I. Europe to join them in the preservation
a ! of peace, primarily for their benefft and
q
II self protection when that is wholly un-
. necessary 10 accomplish the object OF
. the agreement. I think. therefore, tina :
:, these purely American questions ought
to be excepted from the jurisdiction OF
. the executive council and body of dele
. gates. and have prepared and annexed
- hereto n third amendment IN the form
Of a reservation. this being the method
:. which was followed without any obtec-
ton 70 accomplish the same purpose at
the close Of both the Hague conferences.
s, External Aggression.
IT THE fourth point upon which think
ID there should be an amendment is Article
y X, which contains the undertaking to
It respect and preserve as against external
aggression the territorial integrity and
20 existing political independence OF all
= members OF the league
Looking at this article as part Of a
IT perpetual league for the preserva ton Of
is peace. my first impression was that the
rs whole article ought TO be stricken out. II
is perpetual, II would be an attempt TO pre-
e. serve for all time unchanged the dis
t-ibution OF power and territory made ir
l. accordance with the views and exigen'
Of cies of the Allies In this present juno
Ie ture OF affairs. 1t would necessarily b.
" futile. It would be what was attempted
s. by the peace OF Westphalia at the clos
al of the Thirty Years War. at the Con.
lie gress OF Vienna at the close Of tn,
VI Napoleon!c wars, by the Congress o.
Is Berlin in 1878. 1t would not only bt
1e futile; It would be miscellaneous. Chang.
to and growth are the law OF life, and nj
re generation can impose its will In regarC
n TO the growth of nations and the dis
tribution OF power upon succeeding gen
erations.
IT think however, that this articl,
must be considered not merely with ref
- eTence to the future. but with referenc,
Us 10 the present situation in Europe. In
deed. this whole agreement ought to b,
g considered In that double aspect. TIL
ne belllgerent power OF Germany. Austria
al Bulgaria and Turkey has been de
OF stroyed but that will not lead to futur
ng peace without a reconstruction of east
es ern Europe and western Asia. The vas
m territories OF the Hohenzollerns, tn
u Hapsburgs and the Romsnofs have los
r. the rulers who formerly kept the popu
x alton in order. and are filled with tur
bulent masses without stable govern
on ment, unaccustomed to seH.controi an
or lighting among themselves like cnldre
pc o. the dragons teeth. There can be n
10 settled peace until these masses are re
IN. duced 10 order.
mt "Since the Bolsheviki have been al
es- lowed 10 consolidate the control whic
ca, they established with German aid 1
to Russia, the situation is that Great Bri,
in ain. France. Italy and Belgium, with
n