The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-08-07

wars the method, more effective thar
gases or bombs, will be the employ
ment OF the germs Of diseases. carry
ing pestilence and destruction. Any
nation prepared under these condi-
lions. as Germany was equipped In
1914, could conquer the world in a
year.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS ALREADY
IN OPERATION.
IT IL planned now to make this i'm
possible. A definite plan has been
agreed upon. The League OF Nations
10 in operation. A very important
work, under its control. just COM
pleted, was participated in by the
Hon. Elihu Root Secretary OF State
under the Roosevelt Administration.
At a meeting OF the Council OF the
League OF Nations Feb. IL an Or
ganlzinE Committee OF twelve OF the
most eminent ji:.ists in the world was
selected. The duty Of this group was
TO devise plan for the establishment
of n permanent Court of international
Justice, as a branch OF the League.
This assignment has been concluded
by unanimous consent. This augurs
well for world progress. The question
is whether we shall or shall not Join
in this practical and humane move
reBentative at the pence table, entered
tho League in our name. in so far as
the executive authority permitted.
Senator Harding, as the Republican
candidate for the Presidency, pro-
poses in plain words that we remain
out of IT, As the Democratic candi-
date, | favor going in.
Let us analyze Senator Harding's
plan or making German American
pence, and then calling for n new
among nations" assum-
ing, for the purpose OF argument only,
that the perfidious hand that dealt
with Germany would possess the
power or influence TO draw twenty
nine nations away from plan al
ready at work. and induce them TO
retrace every step and make n new
beginning, another commission 10 as
semble with those selected bv the
other powers. with the Versailles
instrument discarded the whole sub
iect OF partitions and divisions OF
territory on new lines would be re-
opened. The difficulties in this re-
gard, as any fair mind appreciates.
would be greater than they were at
The peace session, and we must not
attempt 20 convince ourselves that
hey did not try the genius, patience,
md diplomacy of statesmen at that
lime. History will say that, great as
vas the Allied triumph in war, no
ess a victory was achieved at the |
leace table.
The Republican proposal means
dishonor, world confusion and de-
lay. II would keep US in perma-
nent company with Germany, Rus
STA, Turkey and Mexico. II would
ANA@tl ~ A. ,slAi-
injury than the war itself.
PROMISES RATIFICATION BY HIS
ADMINISTRATION.
The Democratic position on the
question, as expressed in the plat
orm. is:
I'VE advocate Immediate ratIfica-
ion of the Treaty without reserva-
ions which would impair its essential |
integrity but do not oppose the ac- |
'eptanco Of any reservation making |
'lenrer or more specific the obliga- |
ions of the United States 10 the |
league associates"
The first duty Of the new Admins |
ration clearly will be the ratification
II the treaty. Tho matter should be |
approached without thought Of the
bitterness OF the past. The public
'erdict will have been rendered. and |
AAAA NNAAAAAAGAN lHdk I0H IElen0A OF
world peace, as IL will be promoted
" the League, will have in numbers /
he constitutional requisite TO favor
BILE Senatorial action. The captious
nay say that our platform reference /
o reservations Is vague and indefl-
lite. Its meaning, In brief, is that |
'e shall state our Interpretation Of l
he covenant as n matter OF good /
aith to our associates and as a pre-
aution against any misundcrsta nd
lg In the future. The point is. that
fter the people shall have spoken.
he League will be in the hands of its
rlends In the Senate. and a safe in
eN AS TO what they will do il sun
lied by what reservations they have
rupOsed In the past
some months ago, in a contributed
rticle TO the New York Times, | ex-
ressed my own opinion OF the situa-
ION as 1t then was. l reproduce II
ere:
There can be no doubt but that
ONE Senators have been conscien-
Gus in their desire to clarity the
rovlsions Of the treaty. Two things
pparently have disturbed them:
irst, they wanted to make sure that
he League was not 20 ne an alliance.
nd that It's basic purpose was peace
IN NV controversy. second, they
'anted the other powers signing the
lstrument TO understand our Consti-
ltional limitations beyond which the
'e0ty-making power cannot 20.
ealing with those two questions in
rder, IT has always seemed TO me
lat the Interpretation Of the func-
on OF the League might have been
lated in these words:
" In giving It's assent TO this I
'eaty, the Senate has In mind the
lct that tho League OF Nations 4
'hich II embodies was devised for
no sole purpose OF maintaining peace
nd comfy among the nations OF the 1
lrth and preventing the recurrence
such destructive conflicts as that
trough which the world has lust
assed. The cooperation OF thel
nited States with the League and
3 continuance as member thereof.
III naturally depend upon the ad.
erence OF the League 20 that funda-
rental purpose.
Such IA declaration would at least
Npress the view Of the United States
nd justify the course which our
alton would unquestionably follow
the basic purpose OF the League
ere at any time distorted 1t would
Iso appear 70 be a simpler matter 20
rovide against any misunderstand-
IL In the future and ut the snme