The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-08-25

world cannot organize a society for |
peacp4and cooperation without America. /
Every day disproves it. The league is |
going on eourageously. Thirty-nine ma
lions are already bound by its provisions |
which they cannot ignore without. yio- |
lating their signed word. The United |
States cannot destroy the present league; |
it cannot build up a wholly new league.
1t must either stay outside community |
of nations organized for cooperation and
for peace or come. into that league with |
such reservations as it thinks necessary
and with the purpose of pushing all
those great movements for which |
Ameriean foreign policy has always
stoods7 ~
The foregoing view is expressed by one
who has no connection with America 5
pelitital controversy, but brings out a
new point namely; that, far from going
on The rocks because America didn't en-
Fter it,, the league is proceeding to draw
| together the nations of the world and
much of the preliminary work of organ 4
ization has already been accomplished.
| This summary of the meetings at San
| Sebastian was also sent here from the
secretariat of the league of nations:
First, the ornaments commission which
has been misrepresented in United States
has begun work on its program. The actuel
powers of the league of nations with re-
gard to ornaments may be summed up
under the headings of inquiry, recon-
mendations and the exercise of public
opinion The leagues most definite pow
ers, perhaps, are contained in Article /,
| which provides that no new member
may be admitted to the league until it
accepts such regulations as may be pre-
scribed by the league with regard to its
naval, military and air forces and arma
ments. The council may consider the
question of the ornaments of the world
draw up what appears to be an equitable
basis of ornaments and then submit it
to the various nations. The council has
no power to interfere on the question of
national ornaments beyond this form of
recommendation.
| Second, methods of carrying out the
economic blockade and the method of
coercion against state going TO war in
defiance of the covenant have been rec
commended to the assembly and the coun
lcil of the league. This is vital to America
because it is the greatest step ever
taken toward the prevention of war and
because whether the United States is in
the league or not she will be asked to
co operate with the other nations against
any nation which thus made itself an
international outlaw. Immediate consid
Grafton of this subject was felt to be es-
sential because such a blockade could
not be carried on without great loss of
time and efficiency unless there had been
considerable preparation, and because
the mere knowledge that the weapon is
ready for use might have very salutary
effect and because such action would
show that the members of the league are
determined, if necessity arises. to make
it impossible for any nation to violate
the carefully drawn and accepted provi-
sions of the covenant.
1T should be noted perhaps, that the
obligation resting on each state to apply
a financial and economic blockade against
covenant breaking state is automatic
1t arises from the very fact of the vio-
lation of the covenant, thus differing
fundamentally from any military or
naval obligation which may rest upon
the members of she league. In the latter
case, provision is made only that the
council shall recommend to the several
governments what effective forces they
shall severally contribute. thus leaving
to each government the final decision as
to whether it shall or shall not cooper
ate 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 Nov.
Is when for the first time all the states
which have entered the league will come
together to agree upon the many courses
of action drafted by committees thus far
to minimize the causes of international
conflict and prevent the actual outbreak
. of war
Third, the council of the league has
taken definite action with respect to the
fulfillment of the mandates or trustee
ships over former German colonies and
other countries. This is vital because
it not only aims TO secure equality of
commercial opportunity but also seeks
TO prevent these backward countries
from generating new wars.
Fourth the draft scheme of the per-
manent court of international Justice
drawn up by the Hague committee of
which Elihu Root is a member was or
dered by the council to be circulated to
all states of the league in order to expo
dite its adoption by the assembly this
November.
Fifth. the international financial con-
ference is to be held on Sept "a 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
be vitality affected by this conference.
The United States is to be represented
unofficially by delegates named by the
treasury department"
The foregoing is by no means com
prehensive picture of what has been ac-
complished thus far by the league of ma
tions in perfecting its organization, but