The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-11-01
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG.


League of Nations has failed to meet
popular approval because it was fun
damentally wrong in its structure and
was brought forth in violation of all
the essential principles of popular
government" declares the. Republican
Publicity Association. through its
President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.
1T was planned in secrecy and it's
adoption by European nations, was Sc
cured by deception Neither the peo-
pie of the United States nor their
voice in framing the provisions of the
duly chosen representatives had
voice in framing the provisions of the
League covenant, President Wilson
falsely represented to European coun-
tries that America insisted upon the
adoption of the League as a part of
the Peace Treaty. He falsely repre-
scented to the United States that fail
ure of adoption of the League as he
framed it would break the heart of
the world
"The movement for the promotion
of world peace is not new. Nearly five
| hundred years ago the King of Bo-
hemia proposed plan for an interna-
tional parliament and tribunal
backed by military force to hear and
decide disputes between nations, At
frequent intervals from that time to
this various schemes have been pro-
posed, emanating from first one ma
ton and then another, for the purpose
of SETTLING International controver-
sizes or for the domination of individ-
ual nations by super-state having
military power to coerce any nation
that refused to obey its mandates. I'm
doubtedly the most practical and most
] promising plan was that proposed
early in the Nineteenth Century by
peace societies organized by delegates
from all the leading nations of the
world proposing the organization of
n congress of nations and a perma-
nent arbitration tribunal with the en-
forcemetn of DEGREES left to interna-
tional public opinion.
"An association of nations with
force as its basis means the beginning
OF an international beaureaucracy de-
structive of national and individual
liberty Experience not only in the
United States but in all nations, dem
onstrates the inevitable acquisition
and Capitalization of power by any
governmental authority to which the
people once delegate part of their
sovereignty. So long as seelfishness
and ambition continue to be elements
in human nature, this self-develop-
ment of bureaucratic power is certain
to result from the establishment of
any governing body, whether national
or international. The League of Ma
covenant, extremely repugnant
though 1t was to American citizens,
was mild indeed in its provisions as
compared with the power which the
League Council and Assembly would
acquire within the next half century
if the United States had become a
member
| Rejection of the Wilsonian League
by the United States does not mean
termination of an effort to promote
world peace. There should be, and
undoubtedly will be, international
conferences or congresses participt-
ed in by representatives of all the
leading nations for the purpose Of
drafting code of international law
establishing new and better principles
of international relations, and pro-
noting justice throughout the world
But such laws should be based entire
| ly upon the consent of the legislative
bodies of the nations to be bound
thereby. Such code OF international
law will be framed and adopted on
its own merits and not interviewer
with a peace treaty. Nations pertici-
pating in the framing of such code
will be free TO accept or reject Its pro-
visions without the attempted coer-
cion incident to making Its condi'
ton OF declaration of peace.
"The United States and ~other ma
lions have frequently settled disputes
by arbitration, and they will continue
to do so In the future. Such settle
ment has been and VIII continue Il
DO by consent, and not by coercion
/ ~. A.