New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Lessons From a Dead League


The world does not think we'll of the
postludc of the Congress of Vienna
which is called the Holy Alliance. Yet
no man now living is controlled by
nobler emotion than seemed to beat within
Alexander Of Russia when in 1915, three
months after the Vienna Adjournment,
he secured adhesion to his compact
AleXander's words were delightful
The associated monarchs, he wrote
held "fxed resolution, both in the
administration of their respective states
and in their political relation with every
other government, to take for their sole
guide the precepts of the Holy Religion
of the Saviour, namely the precepts of
Justice, Christian Charity and Peace
The present thus has no monopoly of
admiration for the Golden Rule and for
league of nations as it's handmaiden
The rhetorical excellencies of recent
eulogies of world federation are ad-
mltted but rhetorcians were equally
eloquent in other days. But how did
the scheme work? Alas, the record
scarcely justfies perfect faith in the
compulsve power of paper covenants
Things are not always as advertised
The first congress of the Alexandrine
international order met at Ax-la- Cha
pelle in 1918. France, which had been
excluded as too imperialistic, was ad-
mitted Great Britain had Joined,
though Castiereagh had said the scheme
seemed "a piece of sublime mysticism
and nonsense" A solemn declaration
was issued, which announced "the ac-
complishment of the work of Peace
and "the completion of the political
system destined to insure it's solidity."
The league proclaimed that it's members
entertained the invariable resolution
never to depart, either among them
selves, or in their relation to other
states, from the strictest observation of
the law of nations-principles which in
their application to state Of permanent
peace can alone effectually guarantee
the independence of each government
and the stability of the general associa-
ton"
The fair promises were probably not
consciously hyp0critical, and any Con-
gress under the Smuts- Wilson plan will
flnd 1t difficult to utter anything more
lofty. Yet Canning Of Great Britain,
the only genuine liberal statesman then
in Europe, did not like the outlook
feared the league, constituted as it was,
might become an engine of tyranny and
an obstacle to progress. BY 1925 Britain
had withdrawn, soon to be followed by
France. Canning, defyng the league,
said: "It aspired to bind Europe in
chains" Through his farseeing policy
President Monroe announced his famous
Doctrine. To US this Doctrine has
meant a defence Of the New World, but
to Canning it was a calling in of a new
power to redress the lost balance of the
old. jefferson saw in the association
an alliance with Great Britain for the
advancement of liberty, and was de-
lighted. Curious, indeed, is it that the
Monroe Doctrine, whose birth marked
the end Of one league of nations, is
proving stumbling block to another.
Why did the confederation of Europe.
thus definitely established, break down?
Why like ashes in the mouth are state
ments which, if reissued to-day, would
satisfy the most exacting pacifist? Fore
most was a failure to recognize that
though the armies Of Napoleonic France
had been defeated, no kaserbund how
ever much wanting peace on it's own
terms, could confine French ideas.
Second, insufficient allowance for the
growing spirit Of nationality. Third,
over-faith in mere verbal agreements
with coincident neglect to provide for
the now conditions of changing world
Fourth, non-perccption that nascent
national antagonisms, although few de-
fcnd them, are based in deep instincts
and are easily aroused
But the debaclc Of the great attempt
or 1918 does not prove the bankruptcy
OF the international idea now. A League
OF Peoples may succeed where a League
OF Sovereigns did not. But inexorable
conditions must be met. A preponder-
ant power must exist, and the declared
objects Of the League must be it's true
objects One condition meets the de-
mands Of practically and the other the
aspirations Of idcalty A firm alliance
or the nations which gloriously waped