Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-08-20
Purpose Of the League.

The chief purpose of the League of
Nations is to keep the world in q
state of peace. Another way of ex-
pressing II is to say that the league
is designed 10 prevent wars
We have just finished the greatest,
which is to say the most horrible, Of
all conflicts between nations We
have won a glorious victory. But that
victory will be wasted unless this war
has made the nations ready to
put aside their differences and CO.
operate to end war forever.
1t is not enough. however, to pro-
vide for the prevention of wars and
the settlement Of disputes after they
have arisen. We must foresee causes
of trouble and remove them before
they have reached an acute stage
Hence there must be provision for fire.
Quent consultations of members of the
league for exchange of information,
FOR agreement on common policies and
for the gradual formation Of rules of
uncertain and incomplete.
The representatives of the great
free nations which won the war have
met at Paris and, after long consulta.
ton, have drawn an agreement which
they believe will accomplish these
ends. At the very least it will set in
motion great changes which will re-
suit in universal benefit to all man.
kind. This agreement is called the
Covenant Il the League of Nations
and ii Is part Of tie peace treaty.
There Y, lie no league worth talk
Ing about however unless the United
States IS q member. The decision as
to wheeler the United States shall
join rests with our Senate. The Sena-
tors, chosen by the people, will in the
end vote us the people desire. For
this reason t.!e people themselves vii
decide whether or not the United
States will join the league. In this
question every citizen should have i
voice. lie or She can express opinion
either by writing direct to Senators
by letters 10 the newspapers, by
speeches III his lodge or local union Oh
In conversation with friends
Methods of Maintaining Peace.
Since the prime object of thu
League of Nations is to preserve peac,
and to reap the benefits of peace
let us see how the league will operat,
to accomplish that purpose
In the first place 1t will seek to re
move the main causes of war BY tn,
formation of an international court |
will create a means for the peaceful
settlement of disputes between ma
tons. Then ii will seek to compel TIL,
nations to make use of this court
This is nothing more nor less than al
application of the rules and customs
governing private individuals in civil
lied communities to the relations be
tween nations.
Secondly, the League will seek TO re
move great temptation to war b,
the general agreement to reduce tn,
size of armies and nayies. This will
halt the race for military and nava
supremacy which was largely respOn
sible for the war just ended Tn,
amount of armament any nation ma,
maintain will be strictly defined
Thus il will be impossible fer on,
country TO overwhelm its neighbOr h.
unexpected attack, In the way tina
Germany crushed Belgium and woul'
have crushed France had not the othe
democratic nations gone to her aid. TIL
hea is that each country may keel
IN army and navy large enough TO en-
able it TO fulfil its responsibilities a
a member of the League, but no larger
The United States, for example, prob
ably would he expected to keep
check on Mexico and the state of con
slant turmoil in that country would b
hken into consideration in deciding
how large an army we should need
The third important safeguar
which the League will sci up is a sys
tenn of penalties. This will make al
outlaw of any nation or group of liza
tions which goes to war In yiolatio
Of the Esles OF the League. The out