The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-01

| Eut Win the Costly exposure OF tnt
pretenSe OF 1916 fresh In mind the poo.
pie are turning deaf ear 20 the prom
lgo OF 1v20--to the "voiceg In the air
that have already 30 tragically misied
| them. .r,s aM
The peoples distrust of PresIden,
Wilson is tustined by the fatal defects
OF tho league he commends to them Oh
a preventative Of peace.
No doubt n q general league or as
ISOLATION OF nations to prevent war and
maintain peace should be formed every
nation entering II would be called upon
20 make soma modification IN the In
dividuaiistic policies II had hitherto
operation is some restriction on self
assertion. But no nation can be ex-
pected. certainly all ut once. TO abandon
It's fundamental point OF view. or to re-
verse It's historic policies. or TO sur
render long cherished convictions Such
| q sacrifice. however, 10 demanded Of
| the American people by the covenant.
| AS II stands. the league OF nations
! Ia un-American and II In dangerous.
| And the one defect 10 almost ALWAYS
accompanied by the other. To Amer
icani.e i. therefore; Is also to make
Wilson would not permit the senate
of the United States to eliminate its
defects-or indeed to change It in any
respect whatever.
What, then. are the principal vices
OF the Wilson leaguef
I. II begins with political expedi-
diency. instead OF with the principle OF
justice and law. II practically ignores
all the efforts OF the United States
efforts extending over half a century
TO develop and codify International law.
to secure the establishment of a per-
nianent court OF arbitration, and to
procure the settlement OF az justitiable
questions by arbitration. After reading
the covenant OF the league many. times
that It's failure to recognize the in:
dispensable position Of international
law In nodern civilization. VIII be re-
garded by all competent critics as ma
grant In the extreme.
Nor does the league covenant create
court of international Justice. though
the political and legal genius OF Dlihu
Root in cooperation with fellow
workers IN Europe has since supplied
this deficiency. But the vices OF the
Wilson covenant do not confer upon
the court an obligatory jurisdictions;
the result 10 that the parties even In
tusticiable questions need not resort to
the court depends upon the consent OF
the parties! obviously. however. the
world. as Mr.. Root says. Is ready for
obligatory arbitration OF justiciable
questions" or all nations America.
the long time champion OF arbitration.
conference President Wilson opposed It'll
The permanent court OF international
Justice can hear and determine only |
those disputes OF an international char |
acter which the parties thereto sub |
NIT to 1t" ARTICLE XIV. Similarly. |
members Of the league agree to sub. |
nit to arbitration those subjects
tts.sfxt nY, 90 ha Usstt n n Ia
for submission 70 arbitration (ArticIe |
XI1rD--which is merely an agreement |
to arbitrate when the parties choose |
to arbitrate!
What was needed from the point OF
view OF American ideals and traditions |
was the establishment OF q system OF
compulsory arbitration or adjudication
President Wilson opposed. and not only
so. but he went to the opposite ex-
treme OF favoring the compulsory ref
erence OF all international disputes not
settled to the council Of the
league Of nations (Articie XVI. Thus
not only political controversies. but
justiciabie questions also and even
matters of legal right are entrusted in
differently to body Of politicians to
he settled by considerations OF expe-
diency. But Il 10 the highest mark Of
that rights shall be deter.
minou " courts interpreting ana ap-
plying law. International rights are to
be determined by international law. ji-
diciaily expounded. The condemnation
Of the Wilson league In this regard 10
that. ~ MIR. Root has wei Isaid, 1t
rests the hope OF the world for fu-
ture peace In a government OF men and
not Of laws. following the dictates OF
sxpediency and not OF right
.. The second vice OF the league,
rom the American point Of view, IL
Article XXI, which reads as follows:
Nothing In this covenant shall be II
ieemed TO AFFECT the validity OF inter-
rational engagements or regional UNI
Outstanding like the Monroe doctrine
or securing the maintenance OF peace"
l once heard John Hay say---it was
n an address to the New York city
ihamber OF commerce---that the foreign
'olicy Of the United States consisted Of
My two points--one, the golden rule,
md the other. the Monroe doctrine. II
9 absolutely essential to the national
interests that in the making OF treaties
With foreign nations policy SO funda-
mental should be safeguarded beyond
he Possibility OF doubt.