The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-09-10

would make no fine distinction a
to whom credit Is due.
"This Is proposing NO new thing.
This country Is already a member of
such society-The Hague tribunal,
which, unlike the league of Versailles,
Is still functioning, and within few
weeks will resume Its committee SEES
sions under the craftsmanship Of an
American representative.
I'm that body we have the Frame
work of really effective instrument
tablty Of enduring peace. The fact
kthat the tribunal did not prevent the
great war Is, Of course, manifest, but
the cause Of the failure is no less ap-
| parent. Germany, already secretly de-
termined upon ruthless invasion, was
| able to prevent the adoption of meas
ures which might have proved effec-
tual. The condition now Is wholly diff
ferent Not only Germany, but the
entire world has profited to the extent
Of an awful object lession, the impress
sion Of which cannot be erased from
the human mind for generations to
| come. The horrors Of war and the
eagerness for peace have become uni
versal. What once seemed at The
Hague TO be mere academic discus
sion has become a positive, outstand-
Ing need Of facing terrifying actuali-
ties. This makes vastly easier the task
Of so Strengthening The Hague trlbu-
nal as to render its just DEGREES either
acceptable or enforceable. It is not
uncommon for the advocates Of the
league Of Versailles to contrast un-
favorably The Hague tribunal upon
the ground that the tribunal lacks
teeth
Let's Install the Teeth.
"Very well, then, let's put teeth in
to 1t. If, In the failed league Of Ver-
sailles. there can be found machinery
which the tribunal cnn use properly
and advantageously, by all means let
1t be appropriated. l would even go
further. / would take and combine all
that is good and excise all that Is
bad from both organizations. This
statement is broad enough to include
the suggestion that il the league,
which has heretofore riveted our CEN
siderations and apprehensions, has
been so entwined and interviewer into
the peace Of Europe, that It's good
must be preserved in order to stabilize
the peace Of that continent, then 1t
can be amended or revised so that
we may still have a remnant of world
aspirations in 1918 builded into the
worlds highest conception Of helpful
cooperation In the ultimate realiza-
ton.
II believe humanity would well
come the creation of an international
association for conference and
world court whose verdicts upon justi-
ciable questions, this country In COM
mon with all nations would be both
willing and able to uphold. The de-
cislon Of such a court or the recon-
mendations Of such conference could
be accepted without sacrificing on
our part or asking any other power
to sacrifice one iota Of its nationality.
"The Democratic nominee has spO-
ken about America abandoning her as
sociates in war and DESERVING the
allied nations in establishing the
league of Versailles. do not think
1t longer necessary to challenge that
statement or pass further opinion upon
the unfortunate league. 1t has al.
ready been abandoned by Europe,
which had gone so far as to accept
1t by formal agreement in treaty. On
this subject, we are fully informed at
Arct hop nd nvIu
British premier said unresentfully
that the essential cooperation of
America might involve some change,
at any rate, In the form Of the cove
nant,' and he added, with characteris-
tic outspokenness, 1T is quite possl-
BILE 1t might be change for the better
Listen, further, to the wise and far
seeing, former British ambassador,
who was not permitted to present his
credentials to our executive.
On Our Own Terms.
"'As long, said viscount Grey. hard
ly month ago. as long as the richest,
most powerful, the greatest, both for
population and territory, Of the civil
lied countries Of the world stands out
side the league. the league will be un.
able to fulfill its destiny. To put 1t In
quite plain terms, the Americans must
be told that II they will only Join the
league they can practically name their
own terms Undoubtedly that is the
fact. l ask: Is there any good rea-
son why we should not avail ourselves
Of this privilege? do not mean in
any arrogant or selfish way, but sim
ply as a matter of fairness and right
to our own people. Surely It is be-
coming, and duty as well, to safe
guard our own people, since II is we
who are the main contributors, while
asking nothing for ourselves except to
participate in contribution to the
promotion Of world peace
A Valued Suggestion.
"vlscount Grey continues: The
Americans should be intrusted with
the task Of drafting q reconstruction
ccbomo' Thep bo euUUacte furthar