Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-28
A YEAR OF THE NEW ORDER
MIXES HOPES AND FEARS
Certain Tangible Accomplishments
Of the League Of Nations, How
ever, Embarrass the Con.
hrmed PessImlst

OI IHc League OI NdN'SHS' WV"
ever, Embarrass the Con-
firmed Pessmlst
THE observance of holidays Is very
l. largely dependent on hindsight. 1t
is through the rparward perspective that
the memory of great events and great
men thrivps. That explains why the
passage of years was required for
recognition of the conclusion of the
Louisiana Purchase as a signal date !;
why official celebration even of Lin
coins birthday was so long deferred.
The past which lies close to the pres
eut is the critics parade ground. Such
inuuisitors have stamped all over the
year of peace which ends today-the
first anniversary of the signing of the
treaty of Versailles by Germany and
the allied powers.
1t is unfair to brand as pcssimists
these inquirers into the state of things
'as they are. They are realists back in
the saddle again after a world adventure
in idealism which failed to cure the
worlds ills. 1t is easy to brood over
that incontestable fact: quite as easy,
indeed. as it is to scoff at today's an
niversary and to reject the note Of
jubilation as mockery.
Wars have not ceased. Poland, Boil
sheyist Russia. Greece. Turkey. are all
engaged in armed strife. No American
nurse. regarded as indispensable for the
Y e Nat;nnc hos hnnD
employed. The round Of supplement-
ary Peace Conferences and German
laxity in fulfilling the treaty terms
vitiate the force of diplomatic deci-
sions.
knowledge of these failures is uni
versal. Examination Of them would be
profoundly discouraging were the events
of the past twelvemonth capable OF
detachment from the chain of conse-
quences and immune from the bcnefcent
influences which as yet promise rather
than perform. For the year from June
2S. 1919. to June 2S. 1920, has set in
motion many forces-far more than are
generally appreciated - the value OF
which cannot be estimated without the
Illuminating advantage of historic per-
spective.
While il is rash and foolish to declare
that all will be we'll, it is equally in
considerate to maintain that all will be
ill., Patience is a hard school, but II
is there that truth is taught.
General Jan Smuts is a patient man.
So is Herbert G. Hoover.
1t is interesting TO note what these
two sincere champions of world recon :
struction on a plane at once lofty and
sane have to say of a peace program
that has been called impotent. "In
the first days of its operations the
League Of Nations has not res ponded, y
declared the premier of the Union OF
South Africa the other day, TO the
great hopes entertained of it. But, y
he pertincntly added, rather than re-
ioice over its failure. every one should
bend his energies TO make ii an instru
meut of reality and power in the affairs
of the world
Mr.. Hoover has just urged again the
ratification of the covenant, although
with a significant amendment multiplying
the much discussed Article Y pledging
the nations 10 use military force tc
chastsc n refractory state. The faitE
of these distinguished statesmen sug
gests that. despite adverse conditions
and the celebrity Of detraCtors in CAPT
talizing them. the operations of th'
| international society during the yea,
ending today have not been entirel!
negligible.
And indeed n survey of the actua
accomplishment of the league ma!
serve as tonic 10 the dCSpondcnt
Some Of the projects launched. whil
laudable, are grandiose in design, ant
sentence, favorable or otherwise, can
not be pronounced upon them at thi
early date. Others are definite, tangi
bic instruments already Of visible i'm
Dortance in the task Of reconstruction.
Since the ratification Of the treaty o
Versailles ten sections or committee
Of the league have hron organized. The,
are devoted 10 the consideration of poll
ties. legal affairs, economic and tinan
cial affairs, administrative commission
And minority questions, transit an
communications information, mandates
international bureaus, registration .
treaties and social questions and health
In certain instances merely the pre-
l!minary machinery has been started
In others genuine constructive work ]
TO be recorded.
in the fields Of labor and health n
recommendation and suggestion stag
has not been passed. More viSjh
progress is 10 be noted in the s'rp
taken in the formation Of a permahrn
court Of international Justice. \ com
mittee of jurists is now sitting at tn
Hague and occupied with the formation
Of this potent agency on behalf Of peace
The presence Of Elihu Root in mi
body is uuCompromisod b.. the tnrt tha
the United states is still without tn
league. Mr., Root was summoned as a
expert. together with twelve other con
frcrcs from various nations named b
Leon bourgeois, chairman Of tho Ioagu
council.
There is no doubt that the new cour
will be created. and it is proper to oh
serve that its existence does not ncces
sarilv disCrcdit the old Hague court
which is still the guarantor Of some 20
Iorhitr,tioD trp0tips including tWenty