New-York tribune., 1919-01-19
W orld League
Is Opposed by
State Lawyers
New York Bar Members Re-
jcct Resolution After Sc.
we're Criticism of Plan

.FCNt EeCSOIutlDu Alter cC-
we're Criticism of Plan
resolution fayorng a league Of
nations was disapproved yesterday by
the annual convention of the New York
State Bar Association, with Charles L.
Hughes in the chair.
After severe criticism of the league
idea by James M. Beck, William D.
Guthrie and A. r. Clearwater, the com
mttee on international arbitration
withdrew its proposal to support
union of nations, with partial disarma-
ment and an international police force
instead, the association passed a sub
stltute resolution offered by Mr.. Guth-
RE Withholding comment on the plans
before the peace conference until the
proposals of the American representa-
tives arc fully published.
Mr.. Beck attacked world league as
an abstract proposition for which
there is no place now, when the world
THE greatest disservice the United
States has done in the great worlds
crisis, next to its unfortunate neutral
ity for three years." he said, "is. the
fact that it prematurely negotiated
peace proposals, and included in them
certain abstract points, which for the
moment confused the issues and made
impossible the satisfactory adjustment
of the main problem.
Worst Time for Abstract Action
"This is the worst time for the ma
tions in their collective capacity to
construct or reconstruct human society
upon broad and abstract principles.
The league Of nations favor is
only temporary alliance, a vigilance
committee, which might be described
as Trinity of the color-Great
Britain, France and the United States"
Frederic K. Coudtrt, who also spoke
favored the league idea, saying that if
there had Ceen cooperation between the
nations before 1914, the war might
have been avoided. "The best expo
rent of tbe worlds ideals is Woodrow
Wilson," he said. "The war will have
been worth while if We can get Britain,
France and Italy to agree to hold a
conference before going to war in the
future"
Must Know American Plans
The substitute resolution, as passed
oy the Bar Association, reads:
Resolved, That while this associa~
! tion adheres to its approval therefore,
expressed of the settlement of the
principles and rules of international
law by agreement through conventions,
conferences, or leagues Of nations, as
we'll as the creation of permanent
council of concilation for the hearing
and determination OF international dis
rutes, it is not prepared to express its
judgment upon any one or more of the
various plans for a league Of nations
which may be urged upon the peace con-
ference at Paris, and must withhold
any action thereon until the terms and
provisions of the plan finally recon-
mcnded and urged by the American
representatives are fully published"
The original resolution said the as
socation "rcpeats its previous decla-
rations in favor of the establishment
of 4 league of nations with an inter
national court, with provision for par
tlal disarmament and for an interna-
tiona police which shall have power
to enforce the decisions Of the interna-
tional court
Looked Like Ideal Plan First
Mr.. Beck's speech, in part, follows:
AT first it would seem an ideal pur-
pose for nations to reconstruct society
upon surer and more stable founda-
tlons, and IN 4 way lnauguratc the era
of better day. But ! think that view
is superficial. To my mind it resolves
itself into this propositions: This is the
worst time for nations in their col
lcctive capacity to construct or recon
struct human society upon broad and
abstract principles.
81 say that for two or three reasons.
First, | would have you observe that
the abstract and the concrete in these
problems are so interviewer that it is
difficult to sepcrate them, and the con-
crete is of such urgent importance that
VIC can well continc ourselves to that
feature for the present.
When this war ended, on Novcmber r
H., there was ono great urgent task
before the nations Of the world to
make peace with Germany; to make it
quickly, justly, and to allow nothing
to divert or confuse, and, above all, to
allow nothing which would divide the
councils of the Allied Powers.
Delay Means Difficulties
Every days delay in making peace
means that the problems in Germany
and Russia become increasingly diff
ficut. 1t is absolutely Impossible to
construct society on any foundation
formed in Germany. When the arnis-
ticc was declared when al the Ger