Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-28
THE LEAGUE, sOR CHAOS

On wednesday evening President WILSON warned
those with whom he discussed the league OF nations that
~ths,defeat Of the league at this time would mean chaos.
That this viii be the result. that we must choose. and
choose now. between the league Of nations and the wild
est international disorder Of which the mind can conceive.
is not to be doubted, And there IL something which ought
to be SOLDERING in the thought. The world has escaped by
. hairsbreadth the destruction OF its liberties and the in,
auguration Of . system Of tyranny ON a scale unprece-
|dentSd. The world demands protection against such an
other menace. The conditions now are such that millions
upon millions Of people are held to thS forms Of respect
for their national governments only by the conviction
that ,oYt Of the discussions which are, now in progress
there will come an International organization which, il it
cannot prevent war. will at least make war more difficult
and less likely to occur. as we'll as less general in its de-
vastation when 1t does come. Convince the world that
there 10 to be no such thing as great world organization
for the maintenance Of peace and the securing of justice
as between the strong and the weak. and there will ensue
a wild scramble in which It will be every man for him
self and the devil take the hindmost.
Moreover, de are confronted by an intensely prac-
teal proposition. It may be admitted without discussion
that the league constitution presented is not perfect. 1t
would be a stupendous miracle it it were perfect. Almost
without question changes will be made in the document
before its final adoption, and without any question what
ever, other changes will be found necessary after it has
been adopted. But it must be remembered that we are
dealing now. not merely with a general principle, but with
a particular method of applying that principle. That
method. as Incorporated in the league constitution, has,
in its general form, the approval Of the representatives of
all the important, and most of the lesser nations Of the
earth. It is inconceivable that the present draft can be
rejected and something radically different be substituted.
On the controry. the rejection Of this plan is almost GER
tain to be accepted as marking the end Of nc gotiations
for the creation of a league Of nations at this time, and
to this there could be but one sequel. Every nation would
at once begin to make such alliances with its ~neighbors
as. in the opinion of its statesmen. would strengthen its
position for defense and improve its chances should it see
fit to set out on a career OF aggression. The United States
would be forced to pursue the policy found necessary by
other nations. We have had it pretty clearly demonstrat-
jed during these recent years that. there is no such thing
in this world. as matters stand today, as national isolation
We should be obliged to protect ourselves by making Of
fensive and defensive alliances with those of our neigh
should find it necessary to adopt, forthwith, a military
policy of sconscription and tremendous armament, with
all that this means in money cost. in the diversion of the
energy OF our people from the industries of peace to the
activities Of war preparation, and the inevitable growth
o: the militarisuc spirit among our people.
One or both Of thee things we should find necessar,
in the event that. there remained to US a government un.
der and by means Of which we could make alliances and
carry on wars. But so strongly are our own people, al
well az others, determined that among the fruits of thi
war shall be a great International agency for peace, tina
the failure Of the plan would almost inevitably be follow
led by the wrsckins Of the government itself, and the as
cendancy Of thu element which necessarily comes int,
power when orderly government fails.
Such as it Is, and as it may be amended during thu
next few weeks, the world must adopt the proposed con,
stitution for a league of nations. or the world must h
prepared to witness the destruction of sane and orderl,
government. .