The Washington herald., 1919-02-05
British General Declares
America Must Put So
ciety of Nations on Sound
Basis and Take Policing
Role with Great Britain.
ENJOYS SETTLE
TERRITORY ROW
Conflict Between Poles and
Czecho-Slovaks Tempo
rarily Adjusted Greece's
Claims Referred to Spe-
cial Committee.
BY LOWELL MELLETT.


Paris, Feb. 4-Success or failure OF
the society Of nations depends almost
wholly upon the United States.
While America from a purely prac-
tiCal standpoint. has mor- 10 los"
than gain through the league, its
duty 10 the peoples OF the world
cOmpels its leadership in this
international fellowship Of nations.
This frank statement was made @
me today by Mai. Gen. Frederick
Maurice. British expert on military
and international affairs. He was d.
rector OF military operations for tn
British general stan until. when th'
British were opposing the German
drive practically una ided. hc made
his famous Where is BlcucherZ'
statement
L. =. Must Back League.
Maurice declared that not only must
the United States furnish the nnancial
support for reconstruction OF the war
stricken countries-without which as
/ sistance the league would be still
/ born-but that great American
navy is absolutely essential 70 main
tenance Of the leagues chief admins
. trative weapon. economic pressure
i am absolutely certain that "a Tca
J league OF nations I- going through
4 said Maurice
Every day IL is moro fully realized
/ that IN" lea=u" IL not an ideal. but
! a working proposition. When the
/ question OF its enact form rs brought
UP. there will come the realization
that its real efficiency depends upon
/ the United States. This does not
mean IL will be- necessary for tho Unit
I ed States TO undertake territorial com
missions outside her own continent
I Practical difficulties. from the
4 standpoint Of IN" I-uited States. prob
ably will overridu tho advantages she
may obtain from tho league. But u f.
absolutely vital that America shalt
/ assume moral leadership IN the
! leagues affairs
Americas Contributions.
Americas most importaut contrInu-
/ tonS to tho league come under two
heads-iiuancisl and military
Necessity for an agreement by tho
United States 10 support the league Of
nations financially becomes clearer the
more closely tho matter OF restitution
| and restoration Is gone into. The
more actual Information is ohtainedr
the more certain u iS that We will not
get enough out OF the central uowcrs.
either Of money or material. 10 set the
old world on its legs again. Il Is OBJ
vioUs that. AT tho very best. our re-
pair bills will bc only partially met.
| There won't be any indemnities from
which the world will be able TO fnarce
! the development OF the German colo
nIes. Turkish territories. or the new
Republics which are struggling up
ward in Eastern or Southeastern Eu-
rope"
The only hope for the worlds future
I Is for America to step into world poll
I tics and give the league the necessary
financial backing 10 put ITS program
| on a sound basis
We recognize that one or the ghicf
difficulties in maIntonanc, Of the
| league is that democratic states are
/ loath TO commit themselves indefinite
| ly TO supplying troops TO tight iu any
| part Of the work TO uphold tho
leagues authority. That difficulty need
not aris" ir"al Britain and the
| I nij"d states are recognized as hold
/ ing the chief weapon Of the league
economic prcSSurc-thc method for eN-
CrCisinC which is naval force. IT the
nited States and Great Britain agree
7 to plaC" their naval power AT tho dis
posal Of the league. don't 500 how
any nation ever again will dare to
I even think OF war
blockade Effective NcaPon.
III the United States and Great
Braitain had been able ON 1919 TO apply
| to Germany a blockade such as they
| applied early iu 1915. % Us doubtful v
I Germany would ever have started the
war. Certainly she could have not
continued il very LONG. Germany has
! learned tho effectiveness Of the block
/ ad" as a weapon. and % Is most am
| likely she can ever build "a feet ca
I CONTINUED on PACE TWO.