The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-15

~Recamse we felt that in way tnis
e conference did entrust to us the ex-
t preston of one of its highest and most
s important purposes, to see TO II that
e the concord of the world in the future
3 with regard to the objects of Justice
e rhould not be subject to doubt or un-
certainty that the cooperation OF the
greas body OF nations should be on the
$ first twords missinEl in the mainten-
. auce OF peace upon the terms OF honor
p and OF the type hereafter to be struck
. for International obligations.
The eompulsiou OF that task was
constantly upon us. and at no point
= was there shown the slightest desire
to do anything but suggest the nese
means to accomplish that great object.
There is very great significance,
/ L. - r. -. Z. - .'y,-.. tne sesYlt
ssEs resehed pnae ign9naly
Fourteen Nations Represented.
Fourteen nations were represented,
: lamong them all of those powers which
for convenience have called the
great powers and among the rest
representa- of the greatest variety
tof' circumstances and interest. So
think that we are justified In saying
that the significance of the result.
therefore, has that deepest of all mean
ingE. the union OF wills in common
purpose, a union Of willis which cam
not he resisted. and which / dare say
no nation will run the risk OF at
tenn ptinC to resist
Now. as to the character OF the
document. while II has consumed some
time to read this document, 7 think
you wilt see at once that it Is very
simple, and in nothing SO simple as In
the structure which Il suggests for
the League of Nations--a body OF del
ecates, an executive council and a per-
manent secretariat.
9 when Il came to the question OF de-
It'd
ton in the body or delegates. we were
all aware of feeling which is current
throughout the world. Tnasmuch as
am stating IL in the presence Of the
/ official representatives OF the vari-
Gus governments here present, includ
ing myself, ] may say that there is
universal feeling that the world can
nit rest satisfied with merely official
guidance.
There reached us, through many
channels. the feeling that If the DELHI
Grating body Of the league was merely
10 be a body Of officials representing
he various governments. the peoples
Of the world would not be sure that
some of the mistakes which preoccupicd
officials bad admittedly made. might
mot be repeated.
Represent 100000. 600.
I TT was impossible to conceive 8
. method of an assembly SO large and
various as TO be really represe ntative
IT the great body Of the peoples Of
} the world, because. as l roughly reck-
on 1t. we represent as we sit around
this table. more than 1900, ooo, oto peo~
pie.
''You cannot have p representative
assembly of twelve hundred million
people. but If You leave II TO each gov
crnment TO have, if it' pleases, one of
two or three representatives, though
> only single vote, Il may vary its
{ representation from time to time not
Il only. hut ii may originate the choice
OF It's several representatives If II
should have several, in different ways
Therefore. we thought that this was
n proper and very prudent conces-
= sion TO the practically universal opin.
= ion OF plain men everywhere that they
wanted the door left open to a VARIETY
e. Of representation, instead of being con.
= fined to Single official body with
. which they would or might not find
themselves in sympathy. And you viii
70 notice that this body has unlimited
rights of discussion. I mean of dis
l. cussion of anything that falls within
n the field of International relations
4. and that IT Is specially agreed tina
y war or International sunderstand
ss tnEs or anything that may lead e
l. friction and trouble Is everybody
business. because it, may affect tn
=, peace of the world. And In order 4
n, safeguard the popular power so far a
pr we could Of this representative body
n, ~ provided you VIII notice, that wine
10 subject is submitted. not to arbitra
"a ton, but TO discussion by the execu
10 tive council it can upon the fnitia
m tive Of either OF the parties of tn
. dispute be drawn out OF the eyecu
90 tive council on the larger form OF tn
u general body of delegates: becaus
- throughout this instrument we are de
n pending primarily and chiefly upon on
great force, and this ts the mora
n force OF the public opinion of tn
w World--the pleasing and clarifying an
y, compelling Influences of publicity; e
y, that intrigues no longer hav
g. their coverts, SO that designs that ar
IN sinister can at any time be drawn int
the open, so that those things tina
are DESTROYED by the light may b
promptly destroyed by the overwhelm
ing light of the universal expressio
of the condemnation OF the world
- Armed force is in the backgroun
~ in this program. but IL is in the back
ie ground and il the moral force of tn
10 force of tho world shall. But that
:. the last resort because this is intend
,H I'd as "a constitution of peace, not as
league OF war
~ Simplicity OF Document.
10 The simplicity OF the documer
O. seems tn rae to be ono of it's chief viz
a tues, because speaking for myself,
o. was unable to foresee the variety c
es circumstances with which this leagu
m would have to deal / was unable
i therefore. to plan all the machlner
that might be necessary to meet dill
or fering and unexpected contingencies.
a. Therefore should say of this doc
~ ument that it Is not straightjacke
Fe but vehicle OF life. A living thin
& II born, and we must see to IL tina
the clothes we put on are a vehicle q
r power, but a vehicle in which powe
~ may be varied at the discretion c
E. those who exercise it and in accord
ance with the changing circumstance
is OF the time And yet, while It is elias
4 tic, while il is general in its term,
;. it Is definite In the one thing that W
~ were called upon to make definite. --
!" at lis a definite guarantee of peac<
J. It is definite guarantee by wor
against aggression. II is a definit
guarantee. agaias. the things whic
have just come near bringing tn
p whole structure of civilization int
W ruin. It's purposes do not for a me
20 ment lie vague, It's purposes are de
:" clared and its powers made unmts