South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-23
BY THE RIGHT HON. HERBERT
ASQUITH.

Leader OF Liberal Party.
LONDON. Nov. 22.-We have
reached the end OF the drst chapter.
but only the first chapter. in the
history OF the League OF Nations.
Five years ago. IN the early weeks
OF the war. the need for such a
permanent organization Of the free
peoples OF the world was urged by
myself and BY other spOkesmen Of
the Allies. II the efforts and the sac
rihces OF the vast struggle upon
which we were then embracing were
not 20 be thrown away. AS the wan
went on the idea was devel-
oped with increasing deaniteness.
and in particular. 70 was pressed
forward with an array OF CO.
gent and persuasive argument by
the president OF the United States
OF America-but when a little less
than a year ago the armistice was
signed II was still an idea waiting 20
be clothed with actually and life.
Today we are able 20 point, as per
haps the most solid and the most
promising result OF the deliberations
and iabors Of the Paris conference,
20 a solemn covenant Of carefully
elaborated articles which has al
ready been subscribed. I think, by
some % states, great and small,
and 20 which 13 more states
have been invited 70 accede. and
which VIII in due course. as
] think and believe, without any
Available delay. number among
those signatories not only the new
Russia, IN whatever form II might
emerge from the present choas, but
under the conditions legitimately
prescribed by the first article IN the
covenant the late enemies OF
the Allies.
Success Depends on Peoples.
That Is a fitting conclusion 70 what
have called the first chapter, and
81 is probably as much as IN the cir
Cumstances the representatives of
the governments could h ave
achieved. It is our object to-day
and, indeed, Il IS the purpose for
which this union has been formed
10 impress upon the public not only
here but throughout the civilized
world that the success or failure OF
this great experiment now rests not
so much with the governments as
with the peoples.
II would, IN my Judgment be fool
fish to pretend that for the moment
al is going well with the league
There IS a multitude Of disquiet-
ing factors in the international at
mosphere.
II is nearly a year since the armi-
stice was signed. and there are men
acinC storm clouds in at least a
dozen quarters Of the horizon. Old
hostilities are still going on. New
hosti:ties are being contemplated
mankind Is stiil being fruitlessly
sqUandered. and lives which an i'm
poverished world can I'll spare are
day by day and week by week be-
ing wastefully spent The prolonged
delay IN the ratification OF the
Treaty OF Paris has postponed the
possibility OF bringing the League Of
Nations into working activity. II Is
still at this moment a piece OF parch-
Tnent. without actual authority,
without organic life. Nor, one must
add, and add with regret, are there
wanting signs that the old spirit
OF paricularism, which can clOthe
itself in countless shapes, IS by no
means extinct: Il IS sowing the seeds
OF doubt and suspicion, If not OF
open and ostensible hostility.
In a word, the League OF Nations
at this moment is exposed thus early
10 dangers from which IL can only
be effectuaIly safeguarder by the out
put and resOlute support Of the peo-
pies OF the world.
A vital Opportunity.
am not conscious Of using Ian
guage OF exaggerauon If I say, as
do say. that the future OF civiliza-
ton IS ia issue. We have an oppor-
tunity which. II II Is once let slip.
may. IN the lifetime OF us. never
reCur.
we are still fresh from tie i'm
pressions. indeed we still bleed from
the wounds, Of the most terrible
struggle in the history Of mankind.
It's memories and experiences are
still present and poignant. There
Is a breathing-space, or at least the
prospect OF a breathing space. for an
exhausted ana devastated world II
we do not take advantage OF It,
do not say 20 abolish war but TO
render war difficult up TO the verge
even OF impossibnity, we must de-
iiberateIy make our account with a
future fun OF even worse pOtenti-
alities
As I said some months ago. for
all our new and deadly purchase of
aeroplanes. submarines. tanks. and
all the rest, for all that the world
IS only Just beginning 20 learn the
alphabet OF destruction. II FOR the
lifetime OF another generation ma
tions are 90 so on cherishing ami
mosities. Matching rival ambitions,
manoeuvrinE by some new system
OF groups. alliances and understand
ings for international positions and
IN the meantime outstanding their
resources for that purpose. there is.
believe me. an end once and for
al. a tragic and decisive end, 20 all
the best hopes OF humanity.
A Practical Matter
To show how practical ~ matter
this is-we are not IN the region OF
sentiment. we are I'm the region az