The evening world., 1919-07-10

evident to them that what they were
seeiSine would be little more than
something written upon paper to be
Interpreted and applied by such
methods as the chances OF politics
might make available n they did not
provide a means OF common counsel
which all were obliged 70 accept. a
common authority whose decision
would be recognized as decisions
which all must respect.
And 50 the most practical. the most
sceptical among them turned more
and more TO the league as the au-
thority through which international
action was to be secured, the au-
thority without which, as they had
come to see Il, Il would be difficult
to give assured effect either TO this
treaty or to any other international
understanding upon which they were
10 depend for the maintenance Of
peace. The fact that the covenant OF
the league was the first substantive
part OF the treaty TO De worked out
and agreed upon. while all else was
|
mutation OF the rest easier. The con-
ference was. after all, not to be eph-
emeral.
''rhe concert of nations was to
continue, under a definite covenant
which had been agreed upon and
which all we're convinced was work.
able. They could go forward with
confidence to make Arrangements in
lfnnnAA 10 ~.
practical OF the conferees were at
last the most ready 10 refer TO the
League OF Nations the superintend-
ence OF all interests which did not
admit OF Immediate determination, Of
all administrative problems which
were TO require a continuing over
night what had seemed a counsel OF
perfection had come TO seem a plain
counsel OF necessity. The League OF
Nations was the practical states
mans hope of success In many OF
the most difficult things he was at
tempting.
And II had validated itself in the
thought Of every member of the con-
terence as something much bigger,
much greater, every way than a mere
instrument for carrying out the pro-
visions OF a particular treaty. 10 was
universally recognized that all the
|
Conference that 10 should create such
continuing concert OF free nations
as would make wars OF aggression
and spoliation such as this that has
/ Just ended, forever impossible. A cry
had gone out from every home in
every stricken land from which sons
and brothers and fathers had gone
, sacrifice should never again be ex-
acted.
ut was manifest why IL had been
exacted. II had been exacted be-
cause one nation desired dominion
and other nations had known no
means Of defense except armaments
and alliances. War had lain at the
heart of every arrangement OF the
Europe-of every arrangement OF the
world-that preceded the war. Rest
i've peoples had been told that fleets
and armies, which they toiled TO sus-
tain, meant peace: and they now
know that they had been lied to: that
! fleets and armies had been main
? tanned TO promote national ambitions
and meant war. They knew that no
old policy meant anything else but
force. force-always force. And they
; knew that II was intolerable. Every
true heart in the world. and every en-
lightened judgment demanded that at
, whatever cost OF Independent action,
every government that took Thought
, for it's people or for justice or for
, ordered freedom should lend itself 20
/, a new purpose and utterly destroy the
l old order Of international politics.
! Statesmen might see dihicultes, bu
the people could see none and coult
brook no denial A war in which they
had been bled white TO beat the terrol
l that lay concealed in every balance o.
/ power must not end In a mere victory
OF arms and a new balance, TIT
monster that had resorted TO ARM
must be put in chains that could no
be broken. The united power OF fre'
! nations must put stop TO aggression
and the world must be given peace
II there was not the will or the intel
ligence' TO accomplish that now. thert
; must be another and a final war anC
the world must be swept clean OF every
, power that could renew the terror.
'~The League OF Nations was moi
merely an instrument to adjust anC
remedy old wrongs under n new treaty
OF peace; II was the only hope fol
, mankind. Again and again had thu
demon OF war been cast out OF tn,
house OF the peoples and the hous'
, swept clean by a treaty of peace, only
20 prepare a time when he would en-
. ter in again with spirits worse thai
himself.
''The house must now be given |
1 tenant who could hold II against al
. such. Convenient, indeed indispensa'
bile, as statesmen found the newl!
planned League OF Nations TO be fo
Q the execution OF present plans G
| peace and reparation, they saw II II
1, a new aspect before their work wa
finished. They saw II as the matt
= object OF the peace, as the only thinl
= that could complete II or make l
4 worth while. They saw IL as the hop
: OF the world, and that hope they dit
not dare to disappoiRt Shall we o
r any other free people hesitate TO ac
I cept this great duty7 Dare we reJec
!, il ana break the heart OF the world
A COMPROMISE NECESSARY II
REACH ANY AGREEMENT.
-And 30 the result OF the conferenc
OF peace, so far as Germany Is con