The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-29

O4NA EU5 AOEV
 , fectivs everywhere. It is the Monroe Doctrine of the world.
 The purpose of the league is to give notice that if any nation raises its menacing hand and seeks to cross the line into any other country, the forces of civilization will be aroused to sup press the common enemy of peace Therein lies the security of small A tions and the safety of the world. Every war between nations that has ever been fought began in an attempt to seize foreign territory or to in- wade political independence. If, in 1914. Germany had known that in ths event of hostilities, Great Britain would have entered the war; that France would go in; that Italy wouio go in: that Japana would go in, and that inc United States would go in there would have been no war. The opponents of the treaty cry out shall we send our boys abroad to set tie political quarrel in the Balkans. Immediately tine minimizing applaud ano the orator records momentary triumph Have we forgotten that it is precisely what America has already done? Have we forgotten that we sent more than tWe million men to France, spent more thar twenty billions of dollars and sacrificed
 
 settle Balkan dispute.
 There was-a controversy between Ser bia and Austria. Territorial questions political rights and boundary lines were involved. The Crown Prince of the House of Austria was assassinated. little flame Of war licked up into the powder house of Europe, and in moment, tue continent was in flames It took all the power of civilization to put out the con flagraton How idle to inquire whether we wish to send our boys to settle po- litical disputes in the Balkans.
 It is extraordinary that men should waste our time and vex our patience ny suggesting the fear that we may be forced into future wars while forgetting en- tireIy that America was forced into this greatest of all wars. No league Of na- Htions existed when We entered the war and it was only when we formed Tn haste, in the midst of battle, league of friendship, under unified command, that we were able to win this war. This asso- citation of nations. held together Dy a common purpose, fought the war to q VIC torious conclusion, dictated the terms ot the armistice and formula ted the terms of peace If such a result could be achieved by an informal and temporary a greement why should not the associa- ton be continued in a more definite and binding form? What plausible reason can be suggested for wasting the one great asset which has come out of the war How else shall we provide for interna- tional arbitration? How else shall we provide for a permanent court of inter- national justice? How else shall we pro- vide for open diplomacy? How else shall we provide safety from external aggres- sion? How else shall we check the spread of bo,shevism? How else shall industry be made safe and the basis of reconstruction established? How else shall society be steadied so that the processes Of healing may serve their beneficient purpose? un- til the critics of the League offer a bet ter method of preserving the peace of the world, they are not entitled to one moments consideration in the forum of the conscience of mankind.
 Not only does the covenant guarantee justice for the future but it holds the one remedy for the evils of the past As
 it stands today. war is the one way in which America can express it's sympathy for the oppressed of the world. The Lea que of Nations removes the conventional shackles of diplomacy. Under the cove nant, it is our friendly right to protest against tyranny and to act as counsel for the weak nations now without an effective champion.
 THE EXISTING LEAGUE
 The republican platform contains a vague promise to establish another or different form of association amongst nations of tenuous and shadowy char acter Our proposed co-partners in such a project are unnamed and unnamable. It is not stated whether it is proposed to invite the nations that have estab- lshed the present League to dissolve it and to begin anew, or whether the pur- pose is to establish a new association of competitive character, composed of the nations that repudiated the existing league. The devitalzing character of such an expedient requires no comment Fatuous futility could be carried no far ther. There is no mental dishonesty more apparent than that which expresses fe- alty to League of Nations while oppos- ing the only League of Nations that ex- ists or is ever apt to exist. Why close our eyes to actual world conditions? A League of Nations already exists. It is not a project, it is a fact. We must ei- ther enter it or remain out of it.
 What nations have actually signed and ratified the treaty?
 Brazil, Bolivia, Great Britain, Canada Australia, South Africa. New Zealand India. Czecho- o-Slovakia, Guatemala, Li- beria. Panama, Peru, Uruguay. Siam. Greece. Poland Japan, Italy, France and Belgllm
 What neutral states. invited to join the League, have actually done so?
 Norway, Venezuela, the Netherlands Denmark, Colombia. Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Persia. Salvador, Spain, Swe- den, and Switzerland.
 Evan China will become a member when she ratifies the Austrian treaty.
 Germany has signed and is preparing to take the place which awaits her in the League of Nations.
 What nations stands outside? Revolu. tionary Mexico. Bolshevist Russia. Un- speakable Turkey and-the United States of America
 It is not yet too late. Let us stand with the forces of civilization. The choice is plain. It is between the democratic party's support of the League of Nations With its programme of peace, disarma ment and world fraternity, and the re- publican party's platform of repudiation provincialism, militArism and world chaos.
 EQUALITY OF VOTING
 There is great pretense of alarm be. cause the United States has but one vote ii the international assembly, against the SIX votes of Gre2s Britain, Canada. Aus tralia, New Zelana, South Africa and India, This popular argument against the League of Nations is as insincere as It is superficial. It ignores the fact that the executive council, and not the as- sembly, is the governing body of the league. and that our country is one of five countries having permanent mem- bership in the cCuncil The colonial votes exist only in the assembly.
 Nor should we forget that France has but one vote; Italy has but one; and Japan has hlIf ono vota Tf thora u,aro