The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-02-13
LEAGUE OF PEACE

portant address delivered before the
faculty and students Of Columbia
University, by DR.. William F. Slo-
cum Of the Executive Committee OF
the League TO Enforce Peace. Doctor
Slocum said in part:
Three things are evident TO one
who is a student of international
history; first, If there is not a strong
and permanent union Of the nations
Of the world in the interest of the
l-higher welfare of all nations, there
cannot be stable and lasting peace;
second, II the Government of the
United States does not give its gem
erous and hearty support TO a union
Of nations, il will never come into
existence; and third, If the work Ji
such league of nations is not
broadly and permanently construct
i've IL will be a failure even il il Is
organized.
This country has now taken such
place Of leadership among the ma
tiOns Of the world that its action is
crucial in deciding whether this
shall be the last great war. II holds
in its grasp in exceedingly i'm
p0rtant respects, the decision of the
future Of civilization in the world.
A graver responsibility never rested
upon a single people. II is so serious
that if politicians use this present
situation for partisan politics they
are committing a crime the danger
Gus consequences of which are be-
yond estimate.
THE point Of failure OF other
peace treaties has been that the
dominating element in them has
been arbitrary and negative, such
as the unnatural fixing Of state
boundaries or the closing Of the
Dardanelles.
THE attempt to create a so-called
balance Of power has never kept
the peace and is a misnOmer and a
misapplied term, for such a plan
never has made and never can make
II impossible for one group of ma
tons 10 impose its will upon another.
Sooner or later a conflict will ensue
and the defeat Of one must follow.
There must be some other prin-
ciple Of action if lasting peace is
TO be established. This can My
come as all the nations seek together
by compact and agreement TO pro-
duce the best possible condition for
each. This can and ought TO be
done so that the strength and sue
cess Of all are found in the pros
perity OF each. This it is which
will bring a constructive life into
all the world and drive out those
destructive principles Of action
which ever in the end lead TO war
both in a group Of federated states
or a federated group of nations o.
empires.
THE best illustration of an OPP
portunity for a constructive treaty
Of peace and the true mission of a
league of nations will be found in
the Balkan situation. IL is not true
that these people are inevitably
doomed 10 fight each other. Austria
and Russia have used them as tools
and embroiled them with one
another. Their wars are usually if
not always traced back TO the
scheme OF these large nations whose
crimes against Serbia have been
largely the cause Of Balkan wars.
Let the league OF nations by means
OF strong, wise, effective commits
sion without interfering with their
independence or ethnic life help in
the upbuilding OF railroads, high.
ways. the manufacturing, the agri-
culture, the industrial education OF
these countries without pauperiza-
ton, but by generous but exact
business principles. and in place of
a constant source Of trouble for
Europe there can be a federation
of independent nations that will
make its contribution TO civilization
and TO the peace Of the world.
"Constantinople, as the Turk has
shown his incapacity for govern
ment, should be made free and
neutral city where a parliament OF
the Balkan nations should meet TO
discuss their interstate problems.
Such constructive work under
strong, wholesome, and wise in
fluence will 60 a long way toward
war impossible"