The Washington times., 1919-02-15

field OF International relations
and that 1t is especially agreed
that war or international mis-
understanding or anything that
may lead TO friction or trouble is
everybody's business, because IL
may affect the peace of the world.
And in order to safeguard the
popular power so far as we could
of this representative body il is
provided, you will notice, that
when a subject is submitted il is
not to arbitration, but to discus
sion by the executive council; IL
can, upon the Initiative of either
of the parties to the dispute, be
drawn out of the executive coun-
Gil on the larger form of the gen.
cral body of delegates; because
through this instrument we are
depending primarily and chiefly
upon one great force, and this is
the moral force of the public
opinion of the world-the pleas
ing and Clarifying and compel
ling influences of publicity; so
that intrigues can no longer have
their cOveTts, so that designs
be drawn into the open, SO that
those things that are destroyed
by the light may be promptly de-
stroyed by the overwhelming
light of the universal expression
OF the condemnation OF the world.
Armed Force in background.
Armed force is in the back
ground n fhfg kvVN
in the background, and if the
moral force of the world will not
suffice, the physical force of the
world shall. But that is the last
resort, because this is intended as
a constitution OF peace, not as a
league of war
THE simplicity Of the docu-
ment seems to me to be one of its
chief virtues. because, speaking
for myself, ] was unable TO see
the variety of circumstance with
which this league would have to
deal. ! was unable therefore TO
plan all the machinery that
might be necessary to meet the
differing and unexpected contin-
Erncies. Therefore I should say
of this document that il is not
a strait jacket. but a vehicle of
life.
"a living thing is born, and We
must see to it what clothes VIC
put on il. 1t is not vehicle of
power, but a vehicle in which
power may be varied at. the dis
erection Of those who exercise it
and in accordance with the chang
ing circumstances Of the time.
Elastic hut Definite.
And yet, while il is elastic,
while il is general in its terms.
il is definite in tho one thing that
we were called TO make definite.
1t is a definite guarantee of peace.
II is a definite guarantee by word
against aggression. 1t is def
mite guarantee against the things
which have just come near bring
ing the whole structure OF Civili-
zdtiou into ruin.
Its purposes do not for a mo-
meDt Ire vague. IFS purposes arc
declared and its. powers are un-
mistakahlC. It j. not in "Ontem-
pIation that this should be merely
a league to secure the peace OF
tho world. 1t is a league which
can be used for cooperation in
any international matter. That
iS the significance of the provi-
sion introduced concerning labor.
There are many ameliOrations Of
labor conditions which can be ef-
fectcd by conference and discus
sion. / anticipate that there will
BE- a very great usefulness in the
bureau OF labor which il is con-
templatCd shall be set up by the
league. Men, women and chill
dren who work have been in the
background through long ages
and some times seemed to be for
gotten while governments have
had their watchful and suspicious
eyes upon the maneuvers OF one
another while the thought OF
statesmen has been about struc-
turaI action and the larger trans
actions OF commerce and OF
finance.
Labor 20 The Foreground.
Vow. if | may believe the pic
turc which I see, there comes into
the foreground the great body OF
the IabOrinG people of the world.
the men and women and children
upon whom the great burden Of
sustaining tn" world must from