Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-23

LEAGUE AND PRESENT WARS.

hnds himself without a party of any
kind this year-not even a private
party to dictate to-has called on
Governor Cox t o explain why the
League Of Nations has failed to stop
current wars. This is a favorite
argument for those who are opposed
to the league. They delight to point
to the fact that in spite of all the
leading nations Of the world except
the United States having Joined in
a league. wars are still going on;
what, then. they say. becomes Of the
claim that the League of Nations will
put an end to wars.
Well. in the first place, the league
does not pretend to end wars abso-
lutely. There are provisions in the
league covenan whereby force may
be used upon the unanimous consent
OF the council of the league to pun
ish a nation that refuses to abide by
The decisions of the league. This, of
course means war against the offend
Ing nation. 1t is true. however, that
once the league begins to function,
such steps will hardly be necessary
because any nation being assured
that all the powers of the world will
be opposed to it II it violated its
agreement, would not are to resort
to arms and it will readily agree to
the terms of the league as laid down
by the great international court that
Is going to function under the league.
which court Elihu Root has had a
prominent part in organizing.
And right here we ind the ex-
PLANTATION for the failure of the lea
lue to put an end to wars now be-
mg carried on. These wars are real
Ii a continuation of the great strug-
gle which brought about the for
of the League of Nations. In
D5nse, fighting has W. ceased as
Tar as some sections Of the world are
concerned. Had the league been or
ganized at once, however, as soon as
the peace treaty was finished. there
is reason to believe that much of the
chaos we now find would have been
avoided. There was much delay at
the outset in waiting for America to
come in. 1t was expected that the
United States would play a leading
part In the organization of the lea
que. This was the one great power
that was trusted by all other ma
tons. Naturally. the moral effect of
having America sit with the others
in this great tribunal to preserve the
peace Of the world was something
to be desired. Without the United
states in it, the league lost much of
its force.
AS a result, when the Republicans
in the United States senate decided
to oppose the league in order to
spite President Wilson, matters in
Europe were allowed to drift: much
Of the effect of the league was lost
ana conditions went from bad to
worse until, when it was seen that
the United States senate was deter
mined to kill the treaty if it could, it
was too late for the other nations
in the league to save the situation.
But now the other nations in the
league after the delay in waiting for
America, have gone ahead to perfect
the organization of the league. This
is no small task. Great nations cam
not be brought together and the
plans for such an organization can
not be perfected in a day or a month.
The council of the league has held
but one or two meetings and these
were devoted to getting the machin-
cry working. Elihu Root has not yet
returned from his trip to Europe
where he had a big part in establish
ine the International court that is to
be an important feature in the lea
que. This court has yet to be
adopted by the assembly of the
league in which all member nations
are represented. Naturally, then,
the league can hardly be expected
to tackle such problems as the
opponents have already placed be-
fore It.
Organization must be perfected
before work can be performed. The
larger the body to be organized the
greater the task or organization
Then. after it is organized and ready
for business, it must not be swamp
I'd ii the very outset. A baby must
creep before il can walk. As Lord
Balfonr, The great English states
ns:zn. said in reference to the league.
Il VIII be a success If too much is
inc expected OF II all at once. 1t
must be given a chance. Natufrly,
t<a years from now. Il given a.
~znes. . viii p able % function