Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-26
Unpublished 1nforma.
ton Of the Councils Meeting in
Spain Shows Particular Activ.
ity on Program of CONNER.
cial and Economic Blockade
Which Is to Be Relied Upon
More Than Military or Naval
Force to Keep the Peace of the
World
ny DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1soof by Free Press


Of the council Of the Leagu.
of Nations not covered in the cable dis /
patches have just reached here from |
Spain and they show particular activity |
on a program Of commercial and eco
nomic blockade which is to be relied upon !
more than military or naval force to keep |
the peace OF the world.
THE vital fact of to-day" writes one
of the officials who has no connection of |
course with our government lis that the !
League of Nations Is In existence and Is |
rapidly organizing regardless of Amer !
ica's detection. 1t Is the sheerest cant to |
say that all the other nations of the
world cannot organize q society for peace
and cooperation without America Every
day disproves It, The League is going on
courageously. Thirty-nine nations are al
ready bound by its provisions which they
cannot ignore without violating their
signed word. The United States cannot
destro the present league; II cannot build
UP wholly new league II must either
stay outside a community Of nations or
ganized for cooperation and for peace or
come into that league with such reser-
vations as It thinks necessary and with
the purpose of pushing all those great
movements for which American foreign
policy has always stood
The foregoing view is expressed by one
who has connection with Americas
political controversy. but brings out a
new point-namely. that far from going
on the rocks because America didn't en-
ter II, the league Is proceeding to draw
together the nations of the world and
much of the preliminary work of or
ganizaton has already been accomplished.
This summary of the NEE tings at San
Sebastian was also sent here from the
secretariat of the League Of Nations:
First the ornaments commission.
which has been misrepresented in the
United States has begun work on its pro-
gram. The actual powers of the League
Of Nations with regard To ornaments may
be summed up under the headings of in.
duiry. recommendation and the exercise
of public opinion The leagues most def
mite powers, perhaps. are contained in
article J. which provides that no new
member may be admitted TO the league
until It accepts stch regulations as may
he prescribed by the league with regard
to Its naval, military and air forces. and
ornaments. The council may consider the
question OF the ornaments of the world
draw up what appears to be an equitable
to the various nations. The council has
no power to Interfere on the question of
national ornaments beyond this form of
recon mendation.
Second methods of carrying out the
economic blockade and the method Of CO.
ercion against a state going to war in de-
fiance of tho covenant have been recon-
mended to the assembly and the council
of the league This Is vital to America be-
cause II is the greatest step ever taken
toward the prevention of war and he
cause whether the United States is in tho
league or not. she will he asked to
operate with the other nations against
any nation which thus made Itself an In
ternatiopal outlaw, Immediate considera-
| ton Of this subject was felt TO be essen
tial because such a blockade could not
he carried on without great loss of time
| and efficiency unless there had been con-
| siderable preparation, and because the
mere knowledge that the weapon is ready
| for use might have a very Statutory eff
: feet and because such action would show
that the members of the league are de-
termined. II necessity arises. to make it
| Impossible for any nation to violate the
carefully drawn and accepted provisions
| NJ the covenant.
1T should be noted perhaps that the
! obligation resting on each state to apply
a financial and economic blockade against
a covenant breaking state Is automatic.
| II arises from the very fact Of the viola
tion Of the covenant, thus differing funda-
mentally from any military or naval OBJ
legation which may rest upon the mem
hers Of the league. In the latter case.
provision Il made only that the council
I shall recommend to the several govern
nnsnts what effective forces they shall,
severslly contribute, thus leaving to each
| government the final decision as to
whether It shall or shall not cooperate
In the military or naval action. Final
approval and adoption Of the plans being
drawn now rest with the meeting of the
assembly Of the league at Geneva on
November Is when for the first time all
the States which have entered the league
will come together to agree upon the many
courses NJ action drafted by committees
| thus Tar 10 minimize the causes of in
| ternationa1 conflict and prevent the ac
| tuaI outbreak ~ war.
Third the council OF the league has
tstken definite action with respect TO the
fulfilln,ent Of the mandates or trustee
ships over former German colonies and
| other countries This is vital because il
NOT only aims to secure equality Of cont
| mercts, opportunity hut also seeks to
prevent these backward countries from
generating new wars.
Fourth the draft scheme of the perma
n.nt court Of International Justice drawn
IN by the Hague committee of which
Elihu Root is member. was ordered by
the council 70 he circulated to all states
of the league In order to expedite its
sdoption by the assembly this November.
Firth. the International financial con-
ference is to he held On September -,
whether or not the allied governments
fix the total Of Germany's indemnity.
Economic reconstruction In Europe which
owes the United states ten billions of
dollars may he vitality affected by this
conference The United States Is to he
represented unofficially by delegates nam
ed by the treasury department,
The foregoing is by no means a COM
prehensive picture Of what has been ac-
complished, but II gives the exact status
Of five main subjects and since the In
formation does not emanate from 4 po-
liticsI or partisan source. but dsinter-
ested people. 1t can he accepted as re-
liable.