Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-06-27

that the United States would regard any
attempt on their part to overthrow an
independent state in the western Hemis-
phere as against the interest OF the IN
tied States which we should resist. Cal
houn and others thot that such dec
laration and policy would certainly In
volve US in many wars.
What has been the result? For now
nearly century, the Monroe Doctrine
has been maintained inviolate thru a
| constant assertion of it by succeeding
administrations and without firing shot
or the loss Of single soldier. During
the Civil war, Napolenon the Ill did at
tempt to violate it by setting up Maxi
soon as our hands were free, however,
and we were able to send Sheridan with
an army to the Mexican border, Napo--
leon withdrew his French troops and
Maximilan collapsed. If such threat
by the United States alone, not always
SO strong as she now is, maintained IN
violate a declaration like the Monroe
Doctrine for a century, it follows
fortiori that the declaration of the league
uniting the power of the world in pro-
posed maintenance of similar doctrine
will be equally effective, and that it will
not involve the members of the league
in any more wars than we have been IN
volved in by reason of the Monroe Doc
trine.
viii 1t Retard Progress.
Finally, it Is objected to Article y that
it is too rigid, that progress of the world
may need rearrangement of one country
and a reduction of another or the crea-
ton of new states. Article y does not
forbid changes in boundaries or the en-
largement or reduction of states or the
establishment of new states. All that 1t
forbids is the taking of territory by
force from member of the league, or
overthrowing it's government by violence.
Article X does not protect any nation
against internal disturbance. rebellion or
revolution. 1t does not prevent the d.
vision OF states by these means. The
objection assumes that war by one ex-
listing nation upon another is necessary
to the progress Of the world TO secure
useful changes in boundary. We need not
deny that a war Of aggression may
achieve a useful end, but the basis upon
which the league rests is that such ad-
vantages are outweighed by the possi-
bihty that small war may lead to II
general war and an enormous damage to
civilization. The effort in the formula
ton of the present treaty is to make
just boundaries and the effect of Article
y will doubtless be to MAINTAIN tnose
boundaries, in so far as to prevent for
eign aggression from affecting them.
ireland Not Affected.
The suggestion that Article X was in
tended to bring to the aid of Great Brit
ain the power of the United States to
suppress a revolution in Ireland is of
course wholly unfounded because a rev.
olution in Ireland would not be an attack
upon the territorial integrity of political
independence of Great Britain by exter-
nal aggression.
The insinuation against Article X that
Great Britain secured it in order to get
the aid of the United States and other
members of the league to defend and
protect ''her far-flung empire" is also
without basis. No war in the last CEN
tury has been begun against Great Brit
ain to take away territory from her.
Neither she nor the United States would
feel called upon to invoke the defense of
the league to protect their boundaries.
They can defend themselves. No other
state is likely to attack them, with the
purpose of violating Article Y. The rea-
son for Article X is the protection of
weaker nations against stronger ones.
Great nations are seldom attacked ex-
cept in case of conspiracy like that of
this present war, and when such con-
spiracy exists, all of the members of the
league will be anxious to join in its sup
preston. Article X is one of the great
steps forward provided in the league for
the securing of general peace.