East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-07-08

Doctrine, and notified the members
Iof the Holy Alliance that the United
States would regard any attempt on
their part to overthrow an independ-
ent state in the Western Hemisphere
as against the interest of the Unite
States which we should resist cal
houn and others thought that such
declaration and policy would certainly
involve us in many wars.
| What has been the result? For
now nearly century. the Monroe
Doctrine has been maintained invio-
late through a constant assertion of
lit by succeeding administrations and
without firing a shot or the loss of
single soldier. During the Civil War,
Napoleon the III did attempt to vio-
late it by setting up Macmillan in
Mexico as an Emperor. As soon as
our hands were free, however, and we
We're able to send Sheridan with an
army to the Mexican border, Napo-
leon withdrew his French troops and
Maximilian collapsed. If such a threat
by the United States alone, not al
ways so strong as she now is, main
tanned ;nviolate declaration like the
Monroe Doctrine for century, il fol-
lows a fortiori that the declaration of
the League uniting the power OF the
world in proposed maintenance OF
similar q, trine will be equally effect
i've. and that 1t will not involv's the
members of the League in any mors
wars than we have been involved in
by reason of the Monroe Doctrine.
Will 1t Retard Progress
Finally, it is objected to Article X
that it is too rigid, that progress of |
- s..... AL
boundaries. an enlargement 5f one |
country and a reduction of another or /
the creation of new states. Article y |
does. not Sctbid changes in boundaries |
or the enlargement or reduction of
states or the establishment OF new |
states. All that it forbids is the taxi |
ing of territory hy force from a men,
ber of the League, or overthrowins its |
government by violeace. Article y
does not protect any nation against
internal disturbance. rebellion or revo-
luton. 1t .loes not prevent the GrNis-
ion of states by these means. The oh 1
lection assumes that war by one ex- |
listing nation upon another Is neceS-
sary to the progress of the world to I
secure useful changes in boundary. /
We need not deny that a war of ag
may achieve a useful end. but
the basis upon which the Leagle /
rests is that such advantages are out
weighed by the suffering in modern
war and the possibility that q small
war may lead to a general war nd
an enormous damage 10 covilization.
The effort in the formulation of the
present treaty is to make just boun- !
daries and the effect of Article Y /
will doubtless be to maintain those
boundaries. in So far as to prevent |
foreign aggression from affecting 1
them.
Ireland Not Affected
The suggestion that Article y was .
intended to bring to the aid Of Great
Britain the power of the United States 4
to suppress a revolution in Ireland is
of course wholly unfounded. because
a revolution in Ireland would not be
an attack upon the territorial integ-
rity or political independence of /.
Great Britain by external aggression.
The insinuation against Article X
that Great Britain secured it in order
to get the aid of the United States
and other members of the League to
defend and protect her far-flung en-
pfre' is also without basis. No war
in the last century has been begun
against Great Britain to take away
territory from her. Neither she nor
the United States would feel called
upon to invoke the defense of the
League to protect their boundaries.
They can defend themselves. No other
state is likely to attack them, with
he purpose of violating Article X.
The reason for Article X is the pro-
-ection of weaker nations against
stronger pnas Great nations are sell I
lom attacked except in case of a con-
,piracy like that of this present war.
md when such a conspiracy exists, all
If the members of the League will be
anxious to join in its r suppression.
Article X is one of the great steps s
Onward provided in the League for
he securing of general neace ~.