Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-08
World Must Toxic This
League, or None OF AU,
Says Er-Preslde11t Taft

or whether we are to continue in a
state of war until there can be an
other conference to make a treaty to
meet all the varying Inconsistent and
impracticable objections of the OPP
ponents of the present league, who
differ radically and are only united
in opposing the present covenant.
The situation then will require a
closer examination of the words of
the covenant, which will completely
refute the present unreasonable
claims as to the effect of the league.
and compel the present proponents
of it's threatening and dangerous
character to recall what they have
said.
Plain Peoples of Allies for It
The plain people of France, Zig
land and Italy have a passionate de-
sire for the league because they are
war-Weary. And the plain people OF
the United States respond to this,
although not so intensely, since they
nave not seen all the horrors of war.
The federated churches of the coun-
try of largest influence-the Catho-
lie, the Methodist, the Presbyte-
rian, the Episcopalian-are all for
1t, The real spirit of the country
more sensitive to the horrors of war
than the men, are for it. And much
more important, perhaps, is the fact
that all organized labor is for it,.
"A 1dClIOu III d pdI ~ lS
these elements and attempting to
give opposition to the league a party
color is neither loyal to the party
nor governed by considerations that
ought to weigh in a great internal
tional question.
The contention that this league
will involve us in war instead of
keeping US out of war has no foun-
dation. 1t is certain that the obli-
cations of the league will create an
immediate, whitening ostracism and
isolation by all nations directed
ginning war, and the further pros
pect that the nations will unite their
military forces to suppress such a
nation, making the league a tre-
'Its very existence, with the known
penalty of violating it's obligations,
will make the necessity for the eX-
ecution of the boycott Or for the
use OF force most infrequent and inn
probable.
League Plan
"As to the relation Of the league
to the Monroe doctrine, article 10,
in which all the high contracting
parties undertake to respect and pre-
serve against external aggression the
territorial integrity and political in
dependence of any member of the
league unites all the forces of the
world in support of, the main part
Of the Monroe doctrine as declared
by President. Monroe in it's applica-
ton to external aggression against
any American state.
at does not, however, include
graft on that doctrine since adopt
ed and established by. subsequent
presidents and secretaries of state,
to-wit: That there shall be no
transfer of territory or governmental
power in this western hemisphere to
any non-American government a
provision calculated to prevent by
intrigue, purchase or corruption the
attainment of that which nations,
usually bring about by open agrees
sion.
Were an issue of this latter sort.
to be raised by an attempt Of
European or ASiatic nation to buy
territory or governmental control in
the western hemisphere, we would,
under the covenants of the league.
at once affirm objections and carry
the matter not to arbitration, but to
the consideration by the whole body
of delebates, including all the Amer
lean nations, and a dissent by n sim
gle one Of the American nations
against the proposal to permit such
purchase would give us at once the
power forcibly to resist by war the
achievement of any such purpose.
"Ts there a risk that all the Amer
lean nations. excepting the United
States. in the interest of whose in
dependence and peace the Monroe
wears. would unanimously consent to
its violation in such circums stances?
The absurdity Of such a hypothesis
nc