The sun., 1919-02-27
PITFALLS OF A LEAGUE OF
NATIONS.
Ex-senator Beveridge Points Out
Consequences Of Making America
Part OF World Superstate.

Consequences OF making Amoricb
Part Of n World Superstste.
Albert J. Berertdoe In North American Re
vfetn.
Just as the States, In order to form n
nation. gave UP the right to pass tariff
laws or immigration laws. 30 tho nations
comprising the international superstate
would have to do the same thing.
II this Is not so, tho analogy fails.
The argument based upon a comparison
Of the union of the States into a nation
with the proposed union OF the nations
into a world government would require
US to imagine that the States agreed
only that they would not fight one an
other. but still kept the right to make
tariffs against one another, to regulate or
prohibit migration from one to another,
to do the same thing with reference to
commerce: and. in short, to act In every
way as though each State was a SOW
| ereign nation. The States would have
agreed not TO make war among them
selves. and yet would left open every
subject that might cause hostilities. Is
II not plain. then. that this analogy is
false-even absurd?
/
treaty. This treaty would bind each
member nation to make war anywhere
and at any time the League DEGREES. II
America becomes a member, We must,
OF course, repeal that provision OF our
Constitution which gives to Congress the
exclusive power to declare war. Do we
want to abolish that vital provision OF
our fundamental law? Do we wish to
bind ourselves and our children forever
to make war whether We or they want
to or not? Even II we did not formally
repeal that section of our Constitution,
would not the result be TIE same as IL
We did repeal it?-since our honor would
be pledged in the treaty to make war
and Congress would be morally COM
PEELED to declare It, as q matter Of good
faith 10 our allies, whenever and wher-
ever a majority OF them required II.
or course, II the League treaty Is not
to bind each member to enforce the
judgments of the League, then the
treaty would amount merely to an agree
ment that the contracting nations would
undertake to be good.
As to the original project OF an I'M
limited International superstats, so
|
three years. the only reason given for u
is that it may prevent wars by the ami
cable settlement of disputes. But. on
the contrary. does not the plan contain
the very seeds OF strife? Assume the
League in existence with big and little
nations members OF It. Suppose two of
the larger nations differ radically on
some subject which each honestly thinks
vital TO its we'll being The matter must
be settled by vote OF the nations who
are members OF the League. II human
nature has not been repealed, would not
each OF the contending Governments try
TO get as many votes as possible? Would
not this result in-would It not compel
such international intrigue and corrup-
ton as the world has never seen? And
II one Of the disputants should prevail
by single voice or fraction OF a vote,
would the defeated nation and its asso-
ciates submit? Or would there be a
worldwide cry Of fraud followed by re-
sistance? Even II war du not result.
would not the League dissolve, leaving
behind It bitterness and suspicion more
intense and long lived than even some
wars have produced?
| arc SOHetIneB ChauK ou
by revolutions; and revolution in one
country sometimes causes war between
other countries. For instance, the
French Revolution caused the war be-
tween Great Britain and France that. in
turn, resulted IN the Napoleonic wars
Must the League, therefore. interfere
with revolutions? II SO, on which side?
Suppose League OF Nations had ex-
listed at the time of our civil war. II
II had interviewed in that struggle does
anybody doubt what the result would
have been? Do we not know that we
would to-day be two nations instead
OF one? Whoever doubts this should
read European history as related TO the
struggle of the American nation for ex-
istence
Is not the proposed world superstate
an agreement 10 maintain perpetually
by arms II need he, the status Of the
world as it shall be at the time tho
League is formed? Do we not as n
member Of that League. underwr.te for
all time to come the international status
quo and guarantee to maintain 1t with
American ufe and treasure, And Is this
wise or right either for ourselves or the
J world?
II we get into the League we canno,
get out. No matter how badly It works
for us. no matter how much we may
come TO dislike It, We are bound, In
honor. to remain IN II. II. In despera-
ton, we should break the treaty and
release ourselves. would we not thereby
invite war upon us by the other mem
bers of the League? Even II they gen
erously RETAINED from attacking us
could they be expected ever TO trust us
again?
For more than a hundred and thirty
years tho American nation has pro.
crossed along the plain, safe course
these men marked out. II has kept VS.
from disastrous foreign entanslements
and ruinous foreign complications l,
has saved us hundreds of thousands OF
lives and hundreds of billions OF dollars
Why leave II now to wander through
n painless wilderness OF alien interests
racial hatreds, historic animosities?
= The situation q the. American ma.
ton Is unique Geographically II sits or
the throne OF the world. Its history 1:
/ that of the evolution of distinct. sepa.
rate, and independent people. Its mis-,
sion is no less than to create a new
kind the example OF that happiness anl
we'll being which comes from progress
slve, self-disclplined liberty.