The sun., 1919-09-14

livery American citizen who takes
IL much interest in public affairs
wants to know something about the obi
cations which win be imposed upon the
United States if the Senate ratifes the
Treaty Of Versailles so that this country
shall become q member Of the League of
Nations. He also desires clearly to un-
derstand precisely what benefits are ex-
pected to accrue to the United States from
participation in the proposed covenant.
These topics are being talked over every
where that men meet in serious converse
ton; but we fear that dogmatism is the
chief Characteristic of their discussions.
Among the scores Of books which have re-
Gently been published as aids to an under
standing of the league we note two which
are of special value, namely: Present
Problems 10 Foreign Policy, by David
Jayne Hill, our former Ambassador to
Germany, and The League of Nations: Its
Principles and Practice, collection of
papers written by sixteen authors of vary,
ing degrees Of distinction and edited by
Stephen Pierce Duggan, professor of edu-
cation IN the College of the City Of New
York.
II.
DIR. Hills Present Problems IN FOREIGN
Policy contains the strongest presenta-
tion we have seen of the case against such a
League Of Nations as is contemplated by
the Treaty of Versailles and approved
and advocated by President Wilson. His
objections are those of statesman and
expert in international law. He points
out that the proposed league is nowhere
pledged to the maintenance of interna-
tional law or to the recognition of the in
berent rights of States, but it makes the
exercise Of power instead of the promo
tion of willing obedience to the law Of
nations the main purpose of its existence.
Instead Of creating law abiding society
of peace loving States it aims to establish
a supergpyernment by predornhsant
group within general association, and It
sets up q mandate system which IS i'm
periahsticS in character and therefore liza
BILE to thei gravest and most dangerous
abuses. How can the United States"
asks DR.. Hill, "in the person of repre-
sentative appointed by the President, even
If confirmed by the Senate, participate in
issuing Acts. and Charters for the gov
eminent of territory not owned by the
United States and not subject either to
the Constitution of the United States or
to the laws of -Congress" At the close of
the war, according to DR.. Hills views, the
future peace of the world could have been
best insured by the union of the Entente
Allies in ian agreement something like
this:
1--WE the signstories agree that if peace
should be anywhere threatened we viii to-
gether inquire into the cause of aggres-
sion, and If We find that the law of IA
tions has been anywhere violated we will
by mediation together use our best en-
deavors to avoid strife. If war is begun
We will together consider what measures
we should take in common. And we mu-
tually agree to submit any difference we
may have with one another or with other
nations to a like mediation. To this end
We continue our close association of init
mate counsel and we will receive into our
understanding other governments when
circumstances render it proper to do So"
In the view of statesmen like Elihu
Root in this country and James Bryce in
Great Britain, peace can be permanently
preserved only by extending the scope of
international law, recognizing its uni
versal application and observing its rules