South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-11


practice.
TASKS OF CONFERENCE
INSEPARABLE FROM GOAD.
These were not tasks which the
conference looked about Il 10 find
and went out OF It's way 70 perform.
They were inseparable from the
settlements OF peace They were
thrust upon IL by circumstances
which could not be overlooked. The
wax had created them. In all quar-
ters of the world old established re-
lationships had been disturbed or
broken and affairs were at loose
ends. needing 10 be mende6 or unit
ed again. but could not be made
what they were before
They had 10 be set right by ap-
plying some uniform principle of
justice or enlightened expediency
and they could not be adjusted by
merely prescribing in a treaty what
shO be done. New states were TO
be set up which could not hope to
live through their first period OF
weakness without assured support
by the great nations that had con-
sented TO their creation and won for
them their independence.
III governed colonies could not
be put in the hands OF governments
which were TO act as trustees for
their people and not as their mas
tiers If there was TO be no common
authority among the nations TO
which they were responsible in the
execution OF their trust. Future in
ternatiOnal conventions with regard
TO the control OF waterways, with
regard 20 Illicit traffic of many
kinds. in arms or in deadly drugs or
with regard TO the adjustment OF
many varying international admin
iStrative arrangements could not be
assured II the treaty were TO pro-
vide no permanent common interna-
tiOnal agency, il its execution in
such matters was TO be left TO the
slow and uncertain processes of CO.
operation by ordinary methods of
negotiation. If the peace conference
itself was the end of cooperative
authority and common counsel
among the governments 10 which
ti,o world was looking 10 enforce
justice and give pledges OF an en-
during settlement, regions like the
Saar basin could not be put under
a temporary administrative regime
which did not involve a transfer of
political sovereignty and which con-
templated a final determination of
its political connections by the pop
Pular vote to be taken at a distant
date; no free city like Dantzig could
be created which was under elabo-
rate international guarantees, TO ac-
cept exceptional obligations with
regard TO the use of its port and ex-
ceptional relations with a state of
which it was not 20 form separate.
properly safeguarded plebescites
could not be provided for where
populations were at some future
date TO make choice what sover-
eighty they would live under; no
certain and uniform method Of ar
bitration could be secured for the
settlement of anticipated difficulties
OF final decision with regard to RAINY
matters dealt with in the treaty it,
self; the long continued supervision
OF the task of reparation which
Germany was 10 undertake TO COM
plete within the next generation
might entirely break down: the re-
consideration and revision of admin
istrative arrangements and restric-
tons which the treaty prescribed but
which IL was recognized might not
prove OF lasting advantage or en-
tirely fair If too long enforced with
debate imPracticable. The promises
governments were making 10 one
another about the way in which la
bCr was 10 be dealt with, by law
not only. but in fact as we'll would
remain a mere thesis if there was 10
be no common tribunal of opinion
and judgment to which liberal
statesmen could resort for the in
huences which alone might secure
heir redemption.
A league of free nations had be-
come a practical necessity Examine
the treaty or peace and YOU VIII md
that everywhere throughout its
manifold provisions its trainers have
felt obliged 10 turn 10 the league o.
nations as an Indispensable instru-
mentality for the maintenance OF the
new order IL has been their purpose
20 set up in the world-the world
of civilized men.
LEAGUE NEEDED TO
STEADY COJNSEI.S.
That there should be a league of