The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-04-01
KEEPING THEIR POWDER DRY.

Inc attitude Oh OEeoN AoAy OhN SNP~
reveals CLEARLY that those nations do not rely upon the
projected league of nations for safety They formally ap
prove the league plan and cooperating to frame COW
enant that will be acceptable but in the meantime they
take such precautions prudence suggests to safeguard
their interests The French army kept intact and I'M
der strict discipline The British house of commons de-
feats proposal to limit the duration of the new army
and another to keep British soldiers out of Russia Italy
Stands firmly for the protection of her northern Adatc
frontiers against Hunnish invasion, and will go to war
rather than deliberately open her gates Japan asks for
recognition of racial equality in the proposed league o.
nations The Japanese army meanwhile kept in con-
dition to act wherever needed.
Even the United States is taking military and naval
precautions in spite Of the effort to make the league OF
nations he sole protector of America and American rights
throughout the world
There is in this universal prudential reservation Il
force the best Of proof that governments are not ready "
entrust their fate association set OF rules that
are not supported by force And why should they depart
from the lessons of experience? What government ever
existed that did rest upon force in the last analysis
If it is little and feeble nation it exists because u is
protected by nations that command force II 1t is
great nation its strong because 1t has graa
force at its command The webeoved United States Ct
America is no exception to the rule any American car
estify who has ever counter to the laws Tie laws
are nothing more than rules executabe if necessary by
force No force no obedience is the ultimate logic OF ht
law.
The Shuts Cecil draft of the league of nations recog
nzes by implication that force must be exercised ma
tons will insist upon violating the rules OF the league
But instead of recognizing this fact as fundamental ee
men the trainers of the league attempt to dodge the ques
ton Lord Cecil now suggests that nation is to be re
oured to engage in the use of compulsory force wthou
its consent Thus the SPINAL cord of the league is remov
ed for the first refusal Of the nations to use necessa
force would mean that the league nothing but skee
ton.
No better illustration of the futlity of such leagu
could be given than the present attitude of the powers to
ward Russia The allies are league, but they are no
bound to exert necessary force and consequently the
shrk the task Each is willing that its neighbor shou
tackle the boshevik but of them are not willing
to do their share and accordingly the willing ones canno
move Nothing but the stern warning of direct and i'm
mediate peril seems to be sufficient to induce nations
cooperate efficiently The allies permitted the enemy
work terrible havoc and bring civilization to the brink
destruction before they would agree upon single miar
command These experiences are such fresh warning
that it seems impossible for the delegates at Paris to blum
deron the vital, fundamental point that means the sue
cess of failure of league of nations. Yet the bunde
is being made The league of nations is not to be an OF
lploy force to execute its will.
Thus there is nothing on earth like the league of nation
as proposed 1t differs from the free nations and from tn
autocrac nations 1t has not the slightest resembanc
to the United States of America Some excited admirer
of the league of nations project have described the Unite
States as league of nations, though this nation wa
merely the pattern for great world league. These pei
sons have left out the handspring, which is force
No government cares to discuss league that will tax
over the force belonging to each nation The Paris cor
efrence would break up in quarrel if any commandln
influence should be exerted toward the creation of
league capable of compelling each nation to contnbut
its share of force required to keep the world in order
The only way in which the league of nations project ma
been kept before the nations is by steadily emascuatn
lit and acknowledging the unhampered sovereignty o
each nation Evidently therefore, any league emanatin
from Paris will be unable to enforce peace The viril
free spirit of mankind grouped in separate nations vol
unfairly cooperating in great emergencies, seems to b
scti the sole safe reliance of the world.-Washingto
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