The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-01-24
BRITISH IDEA Of
LEAGUE IS ONE Of
NON-R|G|D RULES
LORD CECIL OUTLINES PLAN
SUBMITTED TO PEACE
CONGRESS.
PUBLIC OPINION IS BASIS
Will Proceed with Utmost Respect
for National Sovereignty-Cer-
tain Cities on Waterways to Be
Observation-Disclosures De-
cision With Great Powers.

tain Cities on Waterways to Be
Observation-Disclosures De-
cision With Great Powers.
London, Wednesday, Jan. 22.-
Lord Robert Cecil, who today an
nounced at Paris that he had sub
mitted to the peace congress a draft
Of the British view on the subject
Of the league OF nations, believes
Line world has not vet reached a stage
at which an absolutely rigid system
for the preservation of internation-
al peace can be set up, according
to a Reuters dispatch from the
French capital. In discussing his
idea OF the form the league should
take, Lord Robert says he thinks an
international tribunal with abso-
lutely binding powers is not prac-
ticable at present.
"The creation Of non-rigid inter
national machinery by which a
council by eXerting influence to-
ward conciliation may work, will
be the main strength of future
peace-makers," he said. Such a
body must, however, possess at least
sufficient internationally guaranteed
power to be able to prevent sur
prise declarations of war and to
compel disputantS to accept delay
during which forces Of civilization
may have time to try to avert a
calamity. The interdependence OF
modern states hase become so great
that no nation can control its own
affairs entirely without regard to the
effects of its actions on other ma
tionS. 1t is important to proceed
with the utmost respect for nation
al sovereignty. At present, certain
international organizations such as
posts and telepraphs are regulat-
ed by international agencies. Be
fore the war we had the Danube
commission, the Rhine convention
and even international labor organ
cations.
Free Access to Cities.
' 1t is easy to see that in future
certain cities located on waterways
will have to be under international
control which will guarantee Tree
access to them. Some of the new
states formed out OF the Austro-
Hungarian empire, for example,
cannot possibly have independent
access to the sea. Switzerland. ac-
cording to newspaper dispatches. is
considering a plan which will give
her way to reach tidcwater. Certain
nations have strong interest in
having free access to Saloniki, but
it is out of the question for them
to plan possession OF that port. The
most important example OF this kind
is, OF course, that of the Dardanelles
and the Bosphorous.
These examples of international
agencies which are necessary, lead
naturally to new organization, the
object OF which will be the welfare
OF the nations of the world.
Delay which can give opportun-
ity for discussion and cancellation
will be the principal resource OF
the league in dealing with dispute,
in which the vital interests OF great
nations are involved As in the peace
congress, the ultimate decision must
rest with the great powers, since, a,
a last resort the league can enforce
its decisions only by the military
powers which will always be pos
scssed by the great nations"
Based on Public Opinion.
Speaking of the attitude of other
powers represented as the congress
\ Lord Roberts said he had found in
conversations with delegates that
there was in very large measure an
agreement on the principles he had
outlined. In case of smaller dis
putes between nations there is no
reason, he said why they should mott
he settled by an international
tribunal.
I'm general the power on which
the league must rely mainly will be
public opinion he continued, and
it is for this power that the i'm
posing delay on disputants is so I'M
portant'
Lord Roberts said he favored ;hC
establishment OF permanent inter
national council OF the league which
would sit at a place agreed upon
Above this, he said, there should be
superior council, consisting oI
premierS or important members oI
various national governments which
meet regularly and during the deXt
few years very frequently.
New states formed out of the
wreck of the Austro-lIungariau
monarch, Lord Robert said, could
be admitted to the league without
difficulty as soon as settled govern.
ments we're established.