The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12
By FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

A WEEK ago discussed the Geneva
"A session of the League of Nations
from the point OF view Of European
alliances and league politics, but the later
sessions have supplied the basis for an esti-
nate of the American aspect of this notable
gathering. In the subjects discussed. the
issues raised, the differences disclosed, there
is at last a measure Of specific evidence to
be found which Is pertinent to the debate
States ever since President Wilson brought
the Treaty OF Versailles back from Paris.
AT Geneva. moreover. there has been
vealed that clearly marked confusion which
has so much plagued and bewildered the
American public In all of the League Of
are concerned there are two unmistakable
sentiments to be considered and to be reck
oned with. In the first place, there is an
overwhelming desire to contribute to the
prevention OF war in the future. desire that
the United States should do its part in max
ing other wars impossible or at the least
unlikely.
Coincident with this desire to aid in pre-
venting war is the equally unmistakable
resolution against intermeddling in Euro
pean affairs, in the establishing or guaran-
teeing Of frontiers in the divisions Of col
onies in all the territorial questions which
underlie European jealousies and rivalries
and explain so many recent and ancient
wars While President Wilson's proposal for
a League of Nations seemed merely the
attempt to accomplish the exercising of war,
American support for it was general When
it began to appear that the Presidents plan
involved or seemed to involve, American
,ntermixture with European affairs and
European intervention in American affairs,
American opposition developed and expanded
swiftly and greatly.
Experience at Geneva Illuminating
As to What the League Means
Now at Geneva there has been fair illus
tration Of what the League Of Nations
means in practice. An examination Of the
questions there raised and discussed must
serve to indicate something of what mem
bership in the existing league or in any new
or modified league would mean 1t must
serve at one time to meet the criticisms of
those who insist that by remaining outside
the league we do injury to our own interests
and to answer the charge of those who argue
that to join means to sacrifice national
sovereignty and to involve our country in
dangerous and useless foreign disputes.
Looking at the programme of issues raised
al Geneva II becomes patent at once that a
whole range Of subjects were there raised
or touched upon which have the utmost i'm
portance for us and in the discussion and
regulation of which it is necessary that the
United States should be able to state its view
and support it's policy. For example, the
most important single issue raised, although
it was only lightly touched upon, was that
concerning an international court, tribunal
to which might be referred disputes between
nations.
Now it is manifest that all American
policy in the past has vigorously championed
the idea, expressed in the league tribunal OF
an international court of arbitration. The
United States has signed treaties Of arbitra-
ton with various countries. and in the
several Hague conferences America was one
of the nations most enthusiastically com
ntted to the idea of substituting arbitration