The daily morning oasis., 1920-10-24
An Accomplished Fact

That the League of Nations is accomplished
fact in actual operation without participation OF the
United States; and that it has begun functioning,
with its functions effective and valuable, has been
demorstrated in two instances, composing difficult
ties and avertng war between Finland and Sweden,
over possession of the Aland lsland-between Po-
land and Lithuania about boundaries and contiguous
territory. In each beligerent countries were
preparing for, and but for exertlOn OF League IN
fIuences war would have ensued.
In both cases cited ends attained were reached
without resort to either of the methods OF pressure
with which the League is endowed: military force
and economic embargo. Not shot was fired
behalf of the attitude of the Leagues not pound
comestibles yard OF cloth was diverted from
either of the four jarrng countries. The Council of
the League suggested it's good offices in fixing
things those good offices were accepted, and fix
ing followed In either of those averting war
saved efusion of blood and waste of treasure while
the moral influence upon other nations is incalcul-
able.
Opponents Of the League cite the war between
Poland and Russia as an alleged instance of i'm
potence of the League itself. The citation is not
well taken because the clash before the Coun-
Gil of the League had been fully organized and put
into operation. Moreover Russia had not yet ac-
cepted the League admitted it's validity. Yet
influence of the Council has effected an armistice
between those two warning countries, and that
armistice has become effective this week. It is
pected to lead to permanent peace.
didate Harding declaration that the League is
"scrapped?''. ?''.thrown into the limbo Of things for
gotten With the League functOnlng its Council
and Assembly organized and in operation, backed
by Al independent nationas, in OF his election
to the Presidency which is not conceded, Mr. Hard
ing will find that great aggregation of nationaites
living vital effective force, dealings with which
his administration cannot evade. Should there be
Harding administration it would have to deal with
the League of Nations because it could offer moth
ing else. There few of the civilized nations
remaining outside the League that Mr.. Harding
could not hope to organize another Association of
Nations that would be effective counter balance
Organization into counter league OF Russia, the
United States, Turkey, Mexico, and few minor
nations, under the almost forgotten Hague tribunal
is proposed by Mr.. Harding The. idea is pre-
pOsterous.
When the Constitution of the United States was
adopted it was projected to take effect as soon
nine states ratified Within few months the re-
quisite nine ratified. New Hampshire was the
eighth, New York the ninth. The government pro-
vided organized and put into operation quickly.
The four outstanding states ratified later Rhode
Island the last-five years later. Had Rhode
Island and the other three states offered to set up
another Union it would have been case parelel
with the proposed now by Senator Harding.
None of the other states would have gone to their
Union No Harding draw away from the
League any Of the Al constituting it. The very force
of circumstances compelled joining by Rhode Island
and her backward sisters President Harding and
the Senate Of the United States would find another
set of circumstances drawing this country into the
League, just as Rhode Island was drawn into the
Union
When the United States does ratify the Versail
les treaty, doubtless that ratification will be with
reservations interpretations. The Constitution of
the United States was ratified with certain reser-
vations proposed by various states They in
serted into the instrument by adoption of the first
ten amendments 1t will be the same way with the
League of Nations and the much mooted Articles K "
and XI of the Covenant. Reservations made by
United States will be inserted into the Covenant
and accepted by the other nations.
When the time comes for the United States to do
that, will it not be better to take the step under
guidance and control of wise and far seeing Pres
dent like Governor Cox, rather than by reaction
ary like Harding, who has been upon all sides Of
this great issue?
Then in these lights vote for Cox is the logical