Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-04

The rejection by the United States
Senate of the Presidents proposal that
America accept an Armenian mandate
very closely approxinates an observation
of the first anniversary OF the delivery OF
the terms of the Treaty OF NcrsaliieS 10
the Germans and thus OF the date wileh
that document, with its League OF Ma
tions circumstance saw the light OF day:
Now. after year. what is TO be sald oil
the prospects of the league?
To begin at the beginning 1T must DC
quite patent that the course ot the Euro
pean nations in consenting to the lorna,
ton of a League of Nations WAS dictated
purely and simply by a desire to find some
way of insuring American participation IN
the world affairs and more specifically IN
the maintenance of the terms of the treaty
which was to be made with Germany,
terms which in the very nature OF things
would be fulfilled only during long wears.
The League of Nations, as President
Wilson advocated it seemed the best
promise of continued American particlpa-
ton in world affairs, 1t was, IN TACT, niue
more than an ultimatum which the Presi-
dent served upon the world at parls IN
the shape of declaration that unless thiS
condition were met, America would rctlre.
The condition was met. 10 be sure
there were an infinite number OF 'Tescrva-
tions'' to use the American term. Every
European nation had particular and per
sonal interests which II did not wish 10
submit to- the decision of an international
body. Even the President, himself
sought certain reservations for ms
own country, of which the exclusion OF the
Monroe Doctrine from the field OF inter-
national interference was the most con
spicuo,is. Still a League of Nations WAS
created bv the Treaty and It might have
been expected. as it was hoped hy Europe,
that this concession would not merely
meet the Presidents desires, but also
attract tAufavor of his country
It. must be clear, now, however, that
despite the fact that the President &C
reptcd and continues TO accept the treaty.
It Versailles, because of its League 81
Nations circumstance, tho Treaty has
continued TO increase its appropriately III
the United Stt.cs and with this unpopu-
Iarliv has developed an cver-growing hos
tilItv u all lntcrmixturc i'll European
affairs. Today this sentiment may bc re-
partcd AS having reached its maximum.
Meantime IN Europe something OF the
same phenomenon is discoverablc We
ar almost wear from the date OF thC
signing If the Treaty Of Versailles, but
despite that fact the League Of Nations
is not now permitted to function in any
but the most minor affairs. IT may TAKE
over the administration Of Danzlg and tho
Sarre Basin, tut it is powcrless whcr
Poland decides to meet Bolshevlst Russia
on the battlefield or France counters ;
German invasion Of the Ruhr by an O.
cupation of Frankfort.
One after another Of the familiar inter
national conferences has taken place
notably nj san Reno and IT blythe an,
another will he held at Spa soon, hut thes'
international conferences arc not hel'
under the auspices Of tho League ct IA
tions they are merely meetings between
the heads Of the respective allied govern
ments 1t IS not the League Of Nation
which is directing international relation
but the old association of nations, III IN
present cases the spokesman Of an Anglo
frcnch-Italian alliance
Lord Robert Cecil in England has point