Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-03
IS THE UNITED STATES A COWARD.

No great State paper mas ever
been subjected to more downright
mendacity than the covenant of the
League of Nations. and no other pro
vision of that covenant has been
the object of SO much deliberate
falschood rs Article y.
The language of Article y is plain
and the meaning of il is clear to
vert it:
The members of the League I'M
dcrtakc to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the
territorial integrity and existing
political independence of all mem
bcrs of the League. In case of
any such aggression or in case of
any threat or danger Of such as-
SrcSSion. the council shall advise
upon the means by which, this
obligation shall be fulfilled.
The Republicans who are OppoS-
ed TO the League. and in particular
the Republican Senator'S, insist that
under the terms Of this article the
Council of the League can order the
United States into war and send our
troops wherever it plcases. They
arc the only people in the world
who SO cOnstruc it.
Senator Harding continues TO
talk about "a foreign Council" COM
handing the United States to go to
war and Congress being obliged to
submit. That is not only dcmasog
ic nonsense but Senator Harding
knows that it is dcmasogic non
sense. Even SO illiicratc Il candi-
date as he cannot be so ignorant as
he appears.
Lloyd George. in defining III a
speech in the House of Commons Il
few days ago the responsibilities of
Great Britain, said:
1--WE have entered into Il cove
nant with tho nations who signed
the peace treaty 10 have recourse
10 other methods than the brutal
methods of war for the purpose OF
settling international disputes. and
the whole governing and root idea
OF that covenant. as | understand il.
does not contemplate. necessarily.
military action in support of an i'm
pcrillcd nation: it cOnlcmplatcS
economic action and pressure. 1t
contcmplatcs support of the Strus-
Cling people. and when il is said
that if YOU give any support at all
TO Poland ii involves Il great war.
with conScription and all the mech
aniSnI of war with which we have
been so painfully acquainted dur
ing the last few years. that is in
consistent with the whole theory of
the covenant into which we have
entered. 1t contcnplates other
methods of bringing pressure to
bear upon rccalcitrant nations
which are guilty of acts of agrees
sion against their neighbors and en-
danger their independence.
That is substantially President
Wilson'S Interpretation of it. 1t is
the Interpretation of all the states
men who framed the covenant, all
OF them representing constitutional
Governments in which the war-Inak-
power is solely in the hands of the
legislative department.. Article y.
gives the Council no authority
whatever. 1t can only "advisc."
and that advice must be unanimous
in order TO be official. The whole
machinery Of the League is designed
to prevent war. and Article X. is
the Magma Charta of The small ma
tons. II Was not inserted for the
benefit Of Great Britain and the
United States. which can protect
their own territorial and political
integrity from foreign aggression.
but for the security of the little
countries. 1t is The pledge of the
civilized world that The rights Of
The weak are moi TO be ovcrriddcn
by HE strong.
There was little opposition 10
his article in Republican circles
until The Senators discovered that
President Wilson was The author of
II. Since that time they have cen
ircd their attacks upon it. regard
less Of truth or even dcccncN.
Twcnty-ninc other nations have
accepted ArtiClc,N. without question
iwcnlN-ninc other nations tina, are
quite as anxious 10 preserve their
nationality unimpaircd as the Unit
cd States and quite as Scrupulous
about keeping their treaty obliga-
lions. None Of them is afraid that
"a foreign CounCil,' as Senator
Harding calls it, can order ii to
make war against its will or send
IFS troops 10 fight on alien soil.
OF the thirty nationS Immediate
IS concerned with the League. only
The United States is acting The part
OF Il coward. and the responsibility
FOR HAT COwardicc rests entirely
upon the Republican Senator's. in
Guiding Warren G.. !Iarding.-NcW
YORK WOrid.