The sun., 1919-04-01
The Stand Against the Wilson
League Covenant.

The Stand Against the Wilson
League Covenant.
In the last forty.eight hours Ameri-
can staff correspondents in Paris have
expressed generally the opinion that
Mr.. WILSON'S league scheme has
served thus far chiefly as an auction
block on which some Of the Powers
have tried to drive selfish and greedy
bargains. Mr.. WILSON himself Is not
credited by the correspondents with
having reached a realization yet of
the uses to which his league Is put.
They all agree, however. that the
President has grown suddenly and
emphatically impatient with the lack
of progress Of his scheme 1t is de-
clared that he will not stand the de-
lay much longer. 1t is suggested that
he may even pack up and quit Paris
any minute.
That the United States Senate has
refused to have the league damned
down its throat has not appeared to
disturb Mr.. WILSON. That millions OF
American citizens have been power
fully moved against It seems not to
have interested him. But that in
Paris his league does not manage III
get anywhere beyond that reported
use for abiding has aroused him to a
growing indignation verging upon a
sensational outburst.
1t may be that the Powers to which
are attributed an itching palm for in.
demnity or an indispensable hunger
for territory at anybody's expense
have not used Mr.. WILSON'S league
more wantonly than they have used
other means to suit their own ends
and satisfy their own ambitions. II
may be that II Mr.. WILSON'S league
had never been heard Of those Pow
ers would be scrambling just the same
for oil the spells they could get by
hook or crook. It may be that the
unwise. the ugly, the dangerous ap
petites are inseparable from the max
ing of the peace treaty Itself.
It may be, on the other hand, thai
the purpose Of those represented In
Paris Is not so black as II Is painted
For the matter Of that, suppose all the
Powers were trying to make the best
possible use Of Mr.. WILSON'S schemt
for the benefit Of the world. Suppose
they wanted 1t to be exactly what Mr.
WILSON wants 1t to be. Suppose they
were doing everything they know how
to expedite its progress. Neverthe
less the fact would remain tina
whether the Powers represented II
Paris were a unit on the league OF
were split Into many conflicting ele
ments, our own American Government
cannot be delivered to that league b!
Mr.. WILSON and those Powers so loni
as the United States Senate will no
accept it.
How can anybody In his senses be
lieve that, with the great knowledge
the great authority and the grea
minds of men like LODGE and KNo,
and HUGHES and RooT opposing tn
dangers to our country Of Mr.. VIII
sos's particular scheme and with
big majority Of the Senate followin
those national leaders, Mr.. WILSON
scheme could be made acceptable 70
many a long and weary day?
How can 1t fail to penetrate tn
clear intellect of Mr.. WILSON tina
when his league is held up indehnitel
in whatever quarter and for whateve
reason, to let the peace treaty dra
along with the league would be supe,
lative folly In the immediate pre-,
ent fvr the Paris Conference an
might bring to the Old World In tn
near future Unreasonable disaster?
Time-.-six month"; a year, tw
years. who can say how long?--mlgt
make something reasonable, somethlu
practicable, something workable OF