New Britain herald., 1919-06-18
THE LEAGUE.


 to the League of Nations, should well come the announcement recently made that President Wilson, upon his sreturn to this country, will tour the states speaking upon the League and sexplaining it's merits as they appear ~to him. Naturally there is politics mixed up in the desire of the Presl- dent to throw light upon the project that is occupying the center of the worlds stage but the element of politics has beenr introduced by his opponents in the Senate and the issue of the League will be fought out along political lines, judging by events which have already taken place, The Presi- dent is a forceful speaker, an inter- esting and enlightening tall<er and his addresses should throw a great deal more light upon the subject than hitherto highly distorted speeches in the Senate. He will, we are sure give the most non partisan summary of the troubles attendant upon the formation of the League and present the most forcible arguments for it's adoption. True, he had a great deal to do with the plan from the very start and he is prejudiced in it's favor But he will not have to make bitter attacks upon individuals to make the league stronger as his opponents have been attacking him to defeat it, His defense of the League will be a thor ough explanation and the decision will be left to the public.
 There is a demand for a League of Nations or shall we put it a Conlbi- nation of Powers to Enforce Germany Into Carrying Out Peace Terms. Call it what you will, the League exists to- day as a combine to make Germany pay the price for her foolhardiness in forcing the war Selfish interests govern many of the nations in the league, that is one trouble with it, one reason for the apparent delay in reaching an agreement. The question is when we consider the immediate future should not the United States have something to say about the set clement of terms upon the Germans? And the next question is, How else are we going to settle with the Ger mans than through a combination of powers; could we 10 it alone or would we be warranted in attempting to do it alone and let each other nation that has been harmed proceed likewise? Can you conceive of any adjustment of the difficulties of peace with each nation demanding of Germany some thing in settlement and not consult ing another nation? What a confused mess such a thing would turn out to be. The common enemy deserved common, concerted action. That ac- ton gave rise to technical discussions at the Peace Table about which the average mortal knows little, the set clement of Plume, for instance. But justice will prevail in the final adjust 11ent despite the minor disagreements of the Allied delegates.
 Undoubtedly a com bination to en- force peace was necessary. It was made as we all know. It would be contrary to common sense should that combination, after it had seen it's way to peace, split up and go it's various ways at once. That would leave the enemy without a guard Then a fu- ture com bina tion of powers is neCes- sary. The peace treaty must be in volved with the rules and regulations that are to guard that combination. There must be an agreement between the victOrs as to their future conduct toward one another. They must la y down some laws for their own govern- ance That is just what has been done in the formation of the League of Nations. It may be idealistic. it may not accomplish it's end, but it is the logical sequence Of a victory by d com bination of powers. It's first duty is to look for the fulfllment of the duties of the vanqushed It's further one has been laid down in the capitu- lation of what it agrees to do to it's friends. Remove America from the League entirely if you will but your country will gain nothing and lose a lot
 The argument that the League pact Is an agreement fostered by weak na- lions in their own favor and ma king the United States take part In Euro pean affairs whether she wills it or not Is not fully justified Mattarc m, |, come to such a pass that her inter- I Vention will prove necessary But that has just happened and there was 10 League to make us fight. If the is