The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-12-02
LEAGUE QUESTION
HARD TO SOLVE
Say American Candor and
Courage Would Clear up
Many Problems.
TREATIES ARE FILED

Geneva, Switzerland The first
meeting of the assembly of the League
of Nations has representatives from
most of the civilized world.
It has great statesmen It has ora
tors. 1t has skilled technical advis-
ers
In fact it has everything except
what the United States alone can give
counsel Of one great world-power
which has no entangling alliances, is
not hedged in by jealous neighbors and
not confronted by centuries-old hat
reds.
An American sitting in the sidelines
here, finds himself constantly wishing
that America were in the league-rep-
scented in the assembly by our brain
est men, imparting to discussions Am
erican candor, courage, disinterested-
ness-even "shirtsleeves diplomacy.
u. S.. Could Be Bolder.
Where many nations represented
here are naturally timid, the United
States could in many vital cases
take the holder step without giving of
tense.
For instance, one big future ques-
tion is going to be faithful observance
Of Article 10 of the covenant, provid-
ing that all treaties entered into here
after, by league members. shall be
forthwith registered with the league
secretariat and published Further
more, no treaty shall be binding until
registered.
This proviso embodies our diplo-
matte methods Recently France and
eBlgium drew up plans for military
measures to meet any possible new
German aggression. The terms of this
treaty were not registered with the
League secretariat but letter was
filed stating that the document had
been agreed upon and was purely de-
fensive. Various assembly speakers
have skated delicately around the sub
ject without specifically mentioning
this concrete case.
Under our constitution no such thing
as secret treaty is possible because,
after the Senate approves, all pacts
are published in full. America, if rep
resented in the assembly, could there
fore plead that all nations do, under
voluntarily done.
Germany Files Treaties.
I am able, in this connection, to re-
veal some interesting facts. Although
Germany is not in the league and not
bound by Article 10, she has cleverly
made point of registering with the
secretariat all recent treaties. These
include three with France about the
Versailles treaty, another regarding the
Port Of Kiel, another with Sweden re-
garding the 1911 treaty, two with Let
tonia and two with Russia regarding
prisoners of war.
Another delicate matter the assem-
bly, is considering is the reduction Of
ornaments. Great European powers,
with heavy responsibilities in Europe,
Asia and Africa. are going slow. Small
nations, particularly the Scandinanv-
ians, Dutch, Swiss and Czechs passion
ately desire total disarmament.
The first meeting of the assembly's
commission was addressed by Yelling
ton Koo, head of the Chinese delega-
tion, while the Japs sat synically look
ing on. 1t was like hungry lion list
ening while a big fat lamb bleated
that its foes claws and fangs should
be dulled.
But if the United States were in the
league, the American plea for imme-
date concrete steps looking to event
ual disarmament would command re-
spect. With our man-power, money,
food and natural resources, the assem-
bly, would know our pacifsm came, not
from fear but from genuine desire to
help world now struggling with huge
war taxes and high costs of living to
east off the terrific burden of keeping
up armies and navies.