New-York tribune., 1919-02-16
Strong Pressure to Amend World
League Draft Is Virtually Certain

we have no doubt that strong light
will penetrate into the darkest ports,
that the light radiatng from those
principles will find its way in lands
that seem to be the least open to it.
But it is not enough to proclaim
such great principles. We must organ
ze a system of guarantee and sys-
tenn of action. both judicial and prac-
tical. The plan laid down is clear
and simple one. There is a council.
where all the states are represented
equally, each having only one vote. and
there is an executive committee. which
Is constituted OF different principle.
But even in this case, where it has
been found necessary for purposes of
action to give five votes to the larger
powers, the principle of equality has
been secured by giving as much as
four votes to the smaller states.
Respect for the decision given by
that body will be assured bv definite
rules. the violation of which shall he
considered as an act Of war against all
the contracting states. If one state
1t may be the smallest and most re-
mote of all the states - is attacked
without justification, then the whole
or the league of nations is being at
tackled, and will resist
Would Limit Armaments
But we must go further. In order
to secure the execution of international
sentences there must be a limitation
OF armaments. This has been the wish
III q,,, me world TOR great many years.
What was formerly so difficult has TO-
day become possible. Our victory has
made 1t possible, because it has en-
apied us TO dlsarm the barbaric force
that was in the way of such an i'm
! rrovement ''i ''''
hat limitation must be such that
no state can be capable of prevailing
against the will of the law of nations
Tut at the same time each state should
pc strong enough to contribute TO the
lorce that will enable the league of
nations to impose its will. There has
oeen e.r, ,unanlmlty upon all these points.
,vh ;at "T'e are one or two points upon
winch l wish particularly to insist. be-
cause they are connected with dangers
'nat may be of special moment TO some
OF US, dangers that may arise not
equally for all
here are special dangers for coun-
1fles like France, Belgium, Serbia
ana the new states that are in the
sage OF formation in Central Europe.
ii Is necessary to give them special
guarantees, and this has been recog-
hi2ed by the committee. when it states
tnat special account should be taken
OF the geographical situation of. and
the mode of application to, each state
IN the scale Of armaments. Where
i ihe lfohIisrs arc more exposed it must
ps posslple TO nave stronger systems
OF defence and, possibly also, greater
armaments.
This is all right, but there is no
doubt that it will put on the shoulders
CT the nations that happen to be in
that dlfflcut position a special burden
1t will hamper them in the peaceful
competition that is he life of the
world.
Must Control War Industries
And here again two practical oues-
tons must be putt O give all nations
necessary security. the principle of
the elimination of armaments must not
nnly be executed, but executed very
last. 1t has been said-and no one
has said it more forcefully than
President Wilson-that modern war
has become war of MATERIAL that in
such q war as the one we have lust
seen, and such as we hope never to see
IN the future, what has triumphed has
been science turned into barbarism.
Now 1t IS necessary for us to con-
tfol the War Industries all over the
world. The nations who arc the con-
tracing parties of the covenant
pledge themselves mutually to com
muncate 90 each other full informa-
tlon about their arlnaments and their
means of productions. This is a very
good plan. with which | am particular
ly satisfied.
AT the same time | propose an
amendment which | think | ought to
mention. thought it would be neces-
sary to institute permanent organi-
zatlon tor purposes of inspection, and
THIS amendment was not at the moment
embodied in the text. We have ac-
cepted the text as it is before you. and
we now mention that amendment. 1t
is because, as the whole scheme is
going to be discussed by the world, it
is better that all the points that have
given occasion for important obser-
vatlons should be mentioned.
Raises Mobilization Issue
Here is second point Take
state that violates the international
covenant. That state is supposed to be
IN state of war against all the mem
bers of the league, and all are pre-
pared to compel it to execute it's oo-
legations. But war is not something
that can proceed at once, especially
when the question is how 90 bring to-
sether forces belonging to states which
are very different from each other anc
may be at the four corners of the
world. Each nation will have to wait
in order to act until a certain proceed
ure is gone through and until for eacn
particular nation vote has been taken
hV its narliame ent-and so on. This
means time and delay
And, supposing that there is on the
part OF the aggressor will to precipi-
tate situation, then We must provide