The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-02-11

chants cannot bind them. They are still
: in a. state OF drTclupmcnt, when force
and not sweet rcaSOnablrncSS alone can
keep them within their own tcrritnriea
One fears that VIC may sec in Russia
/ and perhaps in all Eastern Europe, re-
pctition:of Mexico. France fears that
! So do others. The only hop" of protrc-
; ton through the league of nations lies
in making it in very fact an offensive
and defensive alliance, swift tn strike II
/ one nation shall break the peace Of tho
world. md armed and ready tn make the
blow effective. If not. Franco must re.
! main always on Il war footing. allied
/ with England. and prepared If need bc
TO fight /" the death.
, Effective Sanctions Needed.
! Tho league cannot hold. SuyS inc
! Temps. "if there. arc not effective Sanc-
iuns and will not be cfliclciuuS If these
sanctions cannot h: applied inStunu!
and automatically. SO rs to speak
against any ono VIII" may fi3iate ihc
leagues solemn undertaking. But hayr
all countries Il constitution that VIII
permit them Ia agree in advance thus
to tax" up armSo IN tn" United states
for instance. do tho prcrnEativeS OF Tho
Senate permit the president to sign
such a promise. or. ifithc President has
no such power. can on" devise some
means which may nevertheless attain
, tho same result y"
This raises tho question which goes t
the very root Of the matter. To furnish
tho nations which compose the league
with protection on which they may rely
and which will justify them in aban,
duninE an otherwise Imperative form oil
military and naval defense the league
must he 81 organized that it shnll pos
ScSs power adequate for instant actor
to protect it's members from one another
and against outside aggression.
y Alliances Permissible.
But rs American readers we'll know
The. United states Constitution confers
upon Congress exclusively tho power if
declare war and tho treaty making
authority. and docs not authorize this
great power which our forcfathcrs
wrung from tho Executive and vested In
The representatives of the people 10 b.
delegated TO any new supcr-suVcreigntS
or league.
There would seem to he no constitu'
inioual objection, however. TO entering
into an offensive and defensive alliance
We have one precedent for that in the
treaty Of ITS with France. That ALI
ancn bound us To lend armed support e
France in hcr war with England. as II
pledged her to mid us. While true that
This was made Ivy tho. old onfcdcration
| il would not Srcm objectionable under
tho Constitution 10 provide, ny treaty
! or compact with other nations forming
thc league should that the executive
( body of the league should organize and
maintain an armed fnrcc-a comhtna-
! tiunal policc fOrcC--adnQu3tH to coInpr'
! respect for it's dccrcrs and the OK
I prnsc Of which should he borne by the
| nom bcrS Of tho league:
Economic Measures Faulty.
Some supporters Of the plan Tor thr
| league express the opinion that 1t car
enforce it's maudat" by economic de-
| crreS alone and that any members oil
, the lcagu" who disohcys its covenants
; or lawful orders can IT once h" cut OIL
; from trade with Others. But this moth
! I'd might injurr the remaining members
as much as the rrcalCritrant and there
| will be- certainly for Il long time Ma
! tions nulEid" the league who VIII re-
! *p"rt it's d"crrr% only If IL possesses
! available power Ia enforce thcr.
, General SHUTS. in his careful study
, a.: tho subject. expressed tho opinion
! that economic weapons alone will not
| bc enough if unsupported by military
/ and naval action. These arc some OF
| tho questions hat must he solved II inc
! plan Of tho league Of nations shall tultll
| TIC promise made In it's nam" by ffes-
/ idrnt Wilson tn the cXpcctnnt peoples
| of Europe.
Future Belongs TO Justice"
| There is ono n:1cr requirement
equally vital and that Is what PAU
| DrSchanrl referred to III his rloournI
md moving address on the occasion OF
Mr.. Wilson'S reception IN tho Chamocr
OF Deputies. when he said that it was