The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-05
The Success or Failure of the
League of Nations Now Depends
Upon the United States
Copyright, 1919, by The United Press.)
BY LOWELL MELLETT.
United Press Staff Correspondent


United staH Correspondent
PARIS Feb 5success or failure of the league Of nations
depends almost wholly upon the United States While America
fro purely practical standpoint has lose than gain
through the league its duty to the people of the world compe
its leadership in this international fellowship Of nations
This frank statement made to the United Press today by
Major General Frederick Maurice British expert on military
and international affairs He director of military opera
ons the British general staff until when the British
opposing the German drive practically unaded he made his
famous where is Bleucher?" statement
Maurice declared that only the United States fur
nsh the financial support for reconstruction of the stricken
countries without which assistance the league would be still
bonbut that great American navy is absolutely essential
to the maintenance Of the leagues chief administrative weap
on-economc pressure
am absolutely certain that real league of nations going
through said Maurice Every day fully realized
that the league not IDEAL but working proposition When
the question of its exact form brought up there will the
realization that its real efficiency depends upn the United
States This doesn't will be necessary for the United
States undertake territorial commission outside her
nent
Practical difficulties from the standpoint of the United
States probably will override the advantages she may obtain
from the league But absolutely vital that America shall
assume q moral leadership in the league affairs.
Americas most important contribution the league
under two heads--fnancial and military
he necessity for agreement by the United States to
the league Of nations financially becomes clearer the
closely the matter Of restriction and restoration gone into
The actual information obtained the certain s
that will get enough out of the powers either of
money materials to set the old world its legs again. is
obvious that at the very best repair bills will be only
TALLY met Their won't be any ndemnites from which the
world will be able to finance the development Of the German
colonies Turkish territories the republics which
struggling upward in eastern and southeastern Europe The
only hope for the worlds future for America to step into
world politics and give the league the financial back
ing to put its program sound basis.
We recognize that the chief difficulties in main
anance of the league that democratic states oah to
commit themselves indefinitely to supplying troops to fight in
any part Of the world to uphold the leagues authority That
difficulty need Great Britain and the United States
recognized holding the chief weapon of the eagueeco
nomc method for exercising which naval force
the United States and Great Britain agree place their naval
power at the disposal of the league don't how nation
will ever again dare to think of war.
IF the United States and Great Britain had able 1914
apply Germany blockade such they applied early IN
1918 it doubtful if Germany would have started the
Certainly she could continued very long Ger
many learned the effectiveness Of the blockade
and unlikely she build feet capable of COM
petng with generations Therefore, of the be-
nnngs the security the wordthe aim and object of the
be naval cooperation by America and Great Brit
ain behalf Of the league Americas share Of this
must correspond to her weapon and Importance.
In peacee the seas are naturally free The onerees
taking the questions Of waterways and ports whereby
they will be made even free threatens the league
there no saying how far will be limited through
blockade other
with the American and British fleets the naval police of
league the chief Of enforcing its authority and deci
would with the nations which perhaps best
fitted politically and tempeamently HesT such responsible
ity"