Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-16
A DANGEROUS Illusion
Frank H. Simonds in the Review of Reviews.

1t seems to me plain that the league Of ma
tons cannot Immediately, at all events, what
ever its machinery is or may be, deal with the
problems of Europe directly. On the other
hand, an association between the United States,
France and Great Britain, based upon the prin-
ciples of the league of nations, destitute of any
mperialistic ambitions to be satisfied at the
expense of other countries. controlling the food
supplies of the world and the raw materials,
still possessing orderly government. may exer-
else an enormous influence in the world. 1t may
we'll be that Italy. having to choose between
Germany on the one hand and such combina-
ton of the democratic nations may little by
little, forget its present bitterness. And with
Italy joined to the three western nations, the
menace of German coalition will be
greatly minimized
Certainly until French men and women,
American and women, British men and
women are willing to send their sons to the
Danube, the Carpathians and the Vistula, to
enforce decisions made by the league of ma.
tons, it will not be possible for the league of
nations to prevent conflicts between. the races
of central Europe, nor is it conceivable that the
tribes which have been fighting for centuries
for racial aspirations, will at once surrender
them-bow to decisions which are made by a
tribunal without power to enforce them.
Therefore, to believe that we have made
peace at Paris up to the present moment, seems
to me to encourage very dangerous illusion
and to believe that the league of nations can
preserve world peace, while itself relying upon
moral suasion, is equally dangerous dream.
At Paris we have so far reached basis for set
Ting the accounts outstanding between Ger
many and its enemies Not until Germany has
paid those debts shall we have real settle
ment, and Germany means to avoid payment if
it can
AS to the league of nations, it is. so far. only
an association between three democracies, the
Qrsts o,,1
peace, to stand for certain ideas and ideals. to
urge and to champion the idea of settlement of
future differences between nations by peaceful
rather than warlike methods. to prevent the re-
currence of the recent world tragedy. But so
far the league of nations is no more than the
association of these three nations, and it is
nothing if there be any break between these
three powers, any lessenng of the ties which
necessitate close cooperation and complete I'M
Outstanding.
As it stands today the league of nations
means to France nothing more, in fact, than an
Anglo-French guarantee against a new German
attack. 1t means to Britain only the promise
of future Anglo-American association in the
world. closer than any previous relation an al
lance based upon common purposes and COM
ideals There are those in both countries
who hope that it may be the foundation of a
new order in the world, yet even for, them there
is clear perception that this can only pc after
do not believe that if America now refuses this
cooperation and association. then the outlook
for world peace and for civilization is dark, in
deed.
Meantime, the task which remains to be per-
formed at Paris is not merely the larger frac-
ton of the general task, which confronted the
allied countries on the morning. of the armistice
eight months ago, but it is also the most mo-
mentous and difficult task any body of states
men have ever had to undertake. Beside it the
congress of Vienna was child's play. So far we
have only made beginning, and very modest
beginning The main work is still to be done