The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-04

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tisc development or both, power by
which 1t might dominate the world.
This led other nations in the chase
TO keep UP with Germany. The re-
suit was srievous burden upon the
peoples of the countries in taxation
and military service AZ a first evil.
Second. Il created turbulence and
threatening attitude on the part OF
the nation having the best arma-
ment, which made for war and tempt
ed 70 il. Third when war came,
these enormous ornaments developed
ny competition. made war Obstructive
as II never had been before in the
history of the world The limitation
! eff avrnaT1eHt. therefore. wifi tend to
avoid all these evils 1t can be only
limited by agreement between the
nations: only limited by a league of
nations enforcing that limitation.
u. S. RISKS NOTHING
The United States risks nothing in
Sacn Limitation, 1t is not compeil-
ed 10 submit 10 such a limitation I'M
til Il freely agrees to 1t and in the
discussion fixes the terms of the limi-
I tation, The argument that In this
way the United States loses it's power
nf self defense is utterly unwarranted.
+ 1t agrees TO a limitation in considera-
ton that other nations agree TO a
similar limitation, and its safety is in
his mutual agreement. 1t is really
humorous TO protest against the
nifed states conserving to n maxi
mum limitation of armament. The
trouble in The past always has been
that the United States has never had
sufficient armament and is never
likely 70 be viii ng TO maka reason
+ able preparation for defense 1t
-.
required minimum limitation of
armament than by a maximum limi-
t@toR Of armament. If the nations
OF Europe, France and Italy and
Great Britain, can afford to agree to
a limitation OF armament under such
+ an agreement, how little should the
+ Tinted States fear to enter into such
an agreement. with tho Atlantic ocean
! between it and Europe, and with the
/ Pacific ocean between 1t and Asia?
The second great step forward in
VOWED in this league of nations is
( Article y, by which all members of
the league undertake TO respect and
I preserve the territorial integrity and
, the political independence OF every
member of the league. This in effect Is
+ an organization OF the united power
Of the nations of the league to main
tain and preserve an international
commandment, Thou shalt not steal
! 1t is the union of nations TO sup
press the spirit Of conquest, which
led Germany 10 drag this world into
the awfU1 war through which We
have passed II is the effective
answer Of the nations to the German
declaration Of principle that Might
make right" 1t is the protection of
Tho smaller nations against the
spoliation of them by the larger and
more powerful nations. 1t is the
heart of the league and it is the eff
fort of the world of law-abiding
nations to defeat forever the pur-
poses Of German militarism. 1t is
stid that this viii involve the United
States in wars to protect nations in
distant parts of The world in whose
welfare we have no interest. and VIII
'ferst}i fer aTf expenditures OF money and
the lives of our boys in which we
FOUGHT not To involve our country.
This is not true. The effort of the
orsanization of the league, with the
threat against any nation who should
-+Xiotltc- Article Y aud attempt a war
of conquest against another nation.
viii he 10 restrain that nation and
pFeNant its beginning war. The
knowledge that there would be visit
---t--3-ttftt'tt overwhelming power
a
Nersal boycott and, second. hy united
! military forces, will render such wars
most improbable. We employ a police
force, not because the members OF
tiiat force are constantly engaged in
, clubbing men who violate law. blu,
because their presence Restraints the
> men who would wish to violate thr
law, The very organization of the
league, with the force behind 1t. is
=. a,t..s. IN
prevent war, and only in infreoueni
cases viii war result, Nothing shows
this more clearly than our own ex.
perience with the Monroe Doctrine. A
2 century ago we notified the world thai
: we~ would resist any European state
attempting To do TO an American
state what Article X forbids promi
| nent American statesmen said thi,
worftT involve tg in frequent wars
: Yet for near a hundred years W,
- have maintained the Monroe Doctrin,
! without firing a shot or losing a man
: No European nation cared TO ngh
us in trying TO conquer an American
nation: so no nation will wish to ngh
: the league in trying to conquer Z
weaker nation.
Under the recommendation OF tn,
: executive council. which is 10 ac
! unanimously, and in which we hav,
. a representative. we can be sure tina
: our activities will be involved onN
d. under Il reasonable plan for distribut
ing The burden of united action.
NO FAVOR TO ENGLAND
> II has been suggested that this Ar
lticie y is in The interest of Grea
. Britain with her far-fiung empire. Il
preserve her territorial integrit,
through the aid OF the United state.
land other countries. There is ne
> foundation for such a suggestion Car
anyone point out in the history of tn,
( last hfty years any war against Grca
" Britain To take away territory from
] her hy a foreign country No. wal
= Of that sort is not ordinarily begur
against ii nation as powerful "a!
= Great Britain, Wars are begun "A.
Austria began the war against Servia
because Scrvia was a weak nation
jand Austria il strong one: and thi.
, guaranty is in the interest of thu
weaker nations, whom il is to oul
benefit to protect against a war al
conquest that will ultimately involv,
the world rs the attack upon Servis
, did