Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-20
LEAGUE AGAIN LIBEIED

AI It1a1 Il EN- else may De Sdlu IN
w derogation of Franklin d. Roose-
velt's views on international policy,
their originality is undeniable.
Senator johnson, the most vigorous
of the leagues foes, has not hesitatcd to
twist the lions tail for demagogic pur-
poses. But his "Americanism" has not
been carried to the point of comprehen-
sively insulting all the independent ma
tions of the New World over which the
folds of the Stars and Stripes do not
wave. Furthermore, the Californian is
avowedly averse to international afiia-
tions in general.
Standing on a platform which has
appeared to favor some peace promot
ing basis Of reciprocal agreement among
governments, the Democratic candidate
does not. nevertheless, propose to be
outdone in bad manners.
At Butte. Mont, the other day. Mr..
Roosevelt championed a bullying peace
with all the ardor with which the con
firmed militarist might be expected to
indorse a bullying war. Obviously this
is something new in Democratic argu-
ment and worth needing in London, in
Rio. in Montevideo and Buenos Aires.
president Wilson" averred the vice
presidential candidate, put one over
on Premier Lloyd George in the dstri-
button of voting strength in the League
of Nations" 1t was Mr.. Roosevelt's
exultant conention that the United
States in contrast controls the votes of
twelve Latin American nations, and is
in a position to dictate to them to sit
up, TO lie down or to play dead.
Needless to say Argentina, Brazil and
Chile will note this Interpretation of
the covenant with some interest before
collapsing into supineness and servile
prostration. And Britain will at least
be made aware that she was victimized
by a. slick Yankee maneuver before she
accepts the role of subordination in an
alleged partnership.
Democratic enthusiasts are welcome
to figure out for themselves what will
happen to international good feeling
when the Monroe Doctrine is converted
into a gag and the British empire takes
it's orders from Washington
Mr.. Harding has not yet divulged his
detailed idea of new league, but Mr..
Roosevelt has no patience with such
conservatism. In spirited, not to say
slangy language, he hastens to explain
what he thinks the old league really is.
The revelation is not without piquancy,
since the former assistant secretary of
the navy has not permitted himself to
be encountered by facts.
If Mr.. Roosevelt has heard of an
American suzerainty over Brazil, Peru,
Uruguay, Chile and Argentina he is
unique. BY the terms of the Platt
amendment, the United States stands in
a peculiarly intimate relation to Cuba,
and by special treaty also with Panama.
We are maintaining a temporary guar
dianship over Haiti and Santo Do
mingo and 10 a less extent over Mica
ragua.
But where are the twelve tame ma
tons to illustrate the acuteness Of Yam
kee trickery In the Peace Conference?
Just where are those dozen votes capa-
BILE Of inspiring a European former ally
with feeling of abject humility?
Mr.. Roosevelt, like a good many of
his compatriots of both parties, appears
to have somewhat erratic acquaintance
with the actual text of the league
covenant. It was explained ad nauseam
to Hiram Johnson, it will evidently have
to be explained to Mr.. Roosevelt, that
it is the council of the league which is
endowed with rights of initiative and
action. and that in that body Great
Britain and the United States may cast
exactly one vote apiece.
The British dominions and the Latin =
American republics under our tutelage
are members of the advisory chamber,
the assembly. Their admittance by a
rotation, scheme TO the council is con =
tingent upon a unanimous vote of that
upper house. This is the incontroverti
bic answer to the twadde about British
domination of the league, nonsense
which seems to have bothered Mr..
Roosevelt on one side of the fence al
most as much as it has Mr.. Johnson
on the other.
OF course, if the vice presidential
candidate enjoys comforting facts and
arrogantly imperiling international good
will that is his privilege, unless his po-
litical managers should see fit 10 shut
of his prattle- =