The sun., 1919-06-28
The League OF Nations As Mischief
Maker Among Nations.

There has been no clearer expOsi-
ton of the effect on Anglo-American
relations of President WILSON'S self
determined policy than Is contained
in an article by the Hon. JAMES NJ.
BEcK in the July North Americon. 1t
Is entitled "A Reply to Lord RoBERT
CECIL and that is what it really is.
For Its frankness, its insight and its
incontrovertlble logic we commend 1t
to all Americans who have not quite
made up their minds about the Will
sonian covenant.
The information which Mr.. BECK
conveys to Lord ROBERT CECIL and the
other British advocates of the cove
nant as drawn Is all the more au-
thoritative because of the status of
the informant. Nobody on this side
of the Atlantic was quicker than Mr..
BECK to perceive the inevitable re-
suit, so fur as the United States was
concerned, Of the violation of Belgian
neutrality by Germany and the con-
sequent entry of Great Britain into
the war. His books. The Evidence
In the Case and War and Human
ity," and his scores of spirited and
perfectly reasoned speeches were
prime factors, as everybody knows,
in the formation Of a public opinion
here corrective Of the Presidents
original policy of neutrality in
thought as well as IN deed. The
cause Of the Allies had no better
friend. Americas duty to partici-
pate in the defence of civilization had
no more lnsistent prociaimer. Mr..
BECK speaks to Lord RoBERr CECIL
and the British covenanters as a
friend, and he has the right to speak
In that capacity.
A little less than q month ago, In q
formal statement given out in Paris,
the able son of the Marquis of SAILS
BuRY addressed to the American peo-
pie an appeal which Mr.. BECK prop
efly ascribes to fear that the United
States Senate may prefer the tried
traditions Of the Republic to the IL
lusory professions of the proposed
League of Nations" After speaking
gracefully of Americas record of dis
interestedness In the war, so far as
concerns material profit by victory,
the English statesman went so far as
Ia INt nsds-
ut would indeed be deplorable If, at
the end of the Conference, something
happened to mar this record" His
meaning was plain. He meant that
1t would be blot on Americas fame
II the Senate should refuse to accept
unchanged the covenant and treaty
as adroitly and defantly interviewer
by President WILSON'S contrivings
and bargainings.
Mr.. BECK tells Lord RoBERT CEcu
the exact truth about this matter. He
tells him that the developments OF
the Paris Conference do not justify
the hope that the admission of Amer
lea into the somewhat discorda nj
family of European nations would
serve the cause of peace" He as,
sures Lord ROBERT CECIL, in the
frIendllest terms, that instead of pro
noting the Anglo-American entente
the Wilson-Brltish League Is slowly
undermining 1t. America. he points
out, can in future emergencies "ren-
der its greatest service to the world
II it Is allowed to express its opinion
as an independent and impartial State
as each crisis in civilization arises. -
He informs him that majority OF
the United States Senators look upon
the League with dlsfavor; that, II
Presidential politics were out of the
way and the covenant were consid
cred on Its merits, "it can hardly he
questioned that an overwhelming ma.
jority OF the Senate, representing botl
parties, would refuse to accept mem,
bership for America In the League
of Nations"
More than this. The evil already
wrought by the Presidents head
strong determination, aided by tn.
more or less interested concessions O,
the European statesmen, in return TO,
value received, is candidly declared
in the Americans reply TO the Eng
lishman. "The proposal" says Mr.
BECK, "of League of Nations post
poned peace and aggravated by inor
dlnate delay the present anarchy 4
civilization; It also gave rise anon
the Allies TO II disunity In spirit,
not in aims, which otherwise woul