Evening star., 1919-02-26
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What Kind of League

or war, created by recent war eXperl-
ences, and dominating victors and van.
quished alike. For example, the war
weary Russian millions will not fight
even to save themselves from the muir
derous despotism of a few hundred
English soldiers are eager for home, and
many are reluctant to remain in eonti-
mental Europe, even until peace is
safeguarded by the disarmament and
military disablement of Germany.
War-weary allied soldiers do not re-
spond with enthusiasm to the sugges-
tion that they resume fighting on a
large scale in order to help the tired
Russians to help themselves. Present
worldsbhorrence of war viii alone
guarantee long period of peace; (2)
Complete military disabiement of de-
feated Germany coupled with retention
by the allied rictors Of sufficient force
immediately available to keep Ger
many disarmed and disabled will tend
to enduring peace by rendering impo-
tent the autocratic power which, mad
with lust of world conquest, has
broken the peace, and by utilizing this
mpcteney, speetaeularly, as an eff
6octive warning to would-be world
esnquerors of the future; 60 Continu-
alton of the league of allied or asso-
ciated nations whose armies merged
and unified. under single command,
have won the war and are now in the
same spirit of unity, framing the terms
Of a Just, safe and enduring peace.
This victor's league win hold Germany
for an underlined period under bonds to
keep the peace. 1t viii serve as pro-
teetor of the new nations created by
the treaty of Paris against German or
eolshevist assault. 1t will make of
these new nations factors for endur-
ing peace by SO shaping and strength
sning them AZ to hem in and conine
Germany and to separate Teuton from
Hussian bclshevist; and ~ finally
some day this yictors' league, which
enferces peace by the united strength
If the great powers which have been
naified by war, by endurance side by
side of its sufferings and sacrifices
and by feeling in common the thrill
of its glorious inspiration, may de-
velop into world league of nations,
. federation of the world, in which all
civilized nations are equitably repre-
sented. not dominated by any group,
and which enforees peace by the vol
untary binding agreement of all the
nations in it.
The vietors' league will reasonably
decide for itself when, if ever, it shall
be transformed into world league, and
when It can safely surrender power
sf control, hitherto exercised by it, to
10 world at large. And no league
7esking toward peace enforcement in
The future should paralyze or hamper
4amediate peace enforcement by the
military disablement of Germany.
There is now no interference with the
functioning of Foch and the supreme
military council in making just peace
by enforcing armisticc conditions that
prevent Germany from renewing war
And there should never be-
The whole world yearns for peace
and is predisposei to accept eagerly
every authcritativcly proposed and
recommended panacea or specific pre-
ventive of war.
But the entrance Of the United
States into any effective permanent
ldayne of all nations means such rad
ical departure from the traditions and
principles heretofore established by
and for tho nation that the most care
fui scrutiny and analysis of any world
league project are wise and essential
IN the public interest.
President Wilson will develop keen
~ and eloquently the peace blessings
TO be derived from the league which
he proposes; and he is and will be
strongly supported by ex-President
Taft. The dangers involved in the
certain surrender of modicum of ma
tional sovereignty in thus striving for
the promise of future peace have been
and will be ably and fully presented
by other leaders among American
statesmen
Then the rclative benefits and the
sacrifices involved in the world
leagues creation may be intelligentfy
measured and compared and a wise
decision upon the issue reached by the
American people.
The real question is not whether
there shall be a league, for victors
league has been, is now, and Will for
an uncertain period be actively fune.
tioning. The vital issue is whether
our victors' league, from which we can
withdraw when its reason for being
ceases, shall be extended into a per.
manent, indissoluble world league
and, If so, what kind Of organization
tie finally approved constitution Of
the world league shah mako Of it
Who win control the league il tho pro