South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-24
Why The World Needs 4 League OF Nations
And Why The United States Also Needs One
By hOing Fisher Professor of Economics Yale University

We must prescribe, as one Of the
final terms Of peace with Germany.
some other way than war for set
Ting disputes between nations.
The basic proposal involved in the
League Of Nations is simply that in
any case a dispute must be submit
ted TO a third dis!nterested party. II
either party to the dispute breaks
it's agreements and goes 10 war,
that breach of agreement shall itself
constitute an act of war on the part
OF the treaty breaking nation,
act OF war upon all the other mem
bers of the League; and they mu-
tually agree that. as soon as this act
Of war has been committed they
shall all isolate the offending ma
ton, commercially, financially and
personally; in other words that the
nation shall be bOycotted. a boy
colt has the great advantage Of i'm
mediate application without the
months OF preparation necessary for
military warfare. Military force will
not be used except as a last resort
and then only at the option Of each
nation and after recommendation Of
the council of the League with the
consent OF all the members.
Americas Aid Needed.
Forty-one states, including all i'm
portant nations except Germany and
Russia, have already Joined the
League without reservations.
These II states are calling to
America 20 join them in this great
movement for the betterment OF the
world.
IVbor o-co u +ho r,,-,,o 81
United States Will be able 10 protect
the interests of all other nations
whether weak or powerful because
no vital decisions of the council or
assembly can be made without the
consent Of the United States.
Three Reasons for the League.
Entering the League of Nations
is not only desirable but is absolutely
necessary. IL is an absolute neces-
sity" for three reasons, any one of
which would be sufficient 10 justify
that phrase.
First, il is an absolute necessity
as a means of winding up this war.
Secondly, it is an absolutely ncsec-
sity in order 10 prevent high taxa
tion and intOlerable economic bur
dens which otherwise would be
necessary in time of peace TO keep
up competitive arm2ments, armies
and navies.
And. thirdly. it is an absolute
necessity 10 prevent a recurrence Of
the world CataClysm we have just
gone through.
First. "a TO winding up the war,
we must not forget that this war
has unsettled almost everything: IL
has destroyed nations; il has created
new nations on paper. Some dozen
new soVereigutics are 10 be reCOg-
nized There are Finland, Poland,
Czecho- Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia, the
Ukraine. and the Balkan states, and
then there are some Semi-independ-
ent bodies like Armenia. Palestine
and the Caucasus.
Plenty OF Work 10 Do.
These are all. as Mr.. Taft has
said. so many Cubas and will have
10 be treated Just as Cuba was
treated, when We liberated her from
Spain and tried 10 set her up in in
dependent business. These small
states Will be even more at the
mercy OF the great states than Bel
GUM was, II We do not guarantee in
some way their independence. II
We do not, and IL their national
rights are violated, we shall certain
IL be involved ia another world war.
and shat perhaps soon. The big
cest settlements were perfOrCe left
t. the League Of Nations. such as
reparation indemnity administra-
ton OF internatlonalized areas.
As Mr.. Taft predicted. the peace
treaty is as Ions as the moral law.
The text contains some $4,000
words II Will require interpreta-
ton, and viii require enforcement.
and both for the Interpretation and
for the enforcement we need the
League OF Nations. No set OF men
about a green table IN Paris could
be wise enough. said Mr.. Wilson. 10
know what these problems are.