The Washington herald., 1920-12-15

O1 0n6I0l 9Q1 10 uOLSIo9p 9u1 pug AIQuI9SSB
the Argentine, Scandinavian and Canadian dele
cations have been hailed by those opposed to this
league and those opposed to any league the first
step in the direction of its certain disntegration
This is sufficient proof, they declare, that it
has failed as agency for doing justice and keep
ing peace and has become merely a new instru-
ment in the hands of European imperialism Rad
ical opinion has found the league impossible be-
cause it does not go far enough; the advocates of
American isolation against it because it goes
too far.
Radicalism however, is a state of mind which
refuses to see any virtue in anything which does
not coincide absolutely with its own preconceived
standards of perfection. The advocacy of isolation
is the product Of state of mind dominated by
the hobgoblin of nternationalsm which would see
IN every international agreement a menace to the
sovereignty of America
1t is characteristic of both these states of
mind that while they recognize the fundamental de-
STABILITY of guaranteeing international peace they
disparsge the only existing agency for accomplish
ing that object and have no definite alternative
plan.
Any association of nations which provides the
opportunity for the representatives of forty-one
nations to participate in the discussion and settle
ment of the problems of the world is at feast a
step IN advance, If it is not leap into perfection
Without the league the voice of Sweden. of
~oAoNop
faint and far away when Lloyd George, Leygues,
and Giolitti meet in private conference
In the assembly the voice of small nations is
heard not only by the prime ministers of Britain
france and Italy but by the world The necessity
OF defending their before the public opinion of
the world is the most salutary influence that can
be brought to bear on those statesmen who WELD
great power in the worlds affairs
Abandonment of the progress already made be-
of
whatever the by which its advocates en-
deavor to justify it.
The amendments advocated by the Argentine
delegation involve questions OF such far-reaching
importance that it is not surprising that the league
declined to act on them precipitately.
The proposal to elect the whole council by the
assembly would destroy the present system of rep
resentaton and give to the smallest state with the
fewest interests at stake equal power with those
whose interests are largest and whose powers are
greatest.
This would be change in the principle of rep
resentaton equivalent to giving the smallest and
least populous of our States representation i>Con-
gress equal to the largest and most populous
1t is in the assembly obviously that liberal
opinion wield its greatest influence but the ef-
forts of Lord Robert Cecil to limit the competency
of the council and to greater po vers to the
assembly is more in line with "democtatc trans
formation of the league" than the proposal of Senior
Pueyrredon.
The suggestion that constituted states be ad-
mtted to the league has in its favor than the
FIRST proposal, yet here the league is confronted
with the certain opposition of France in the case
of Germany and Jugo-Slavia and Greece in the case
of Bulgaria who base their opposition the ground
that their former enemy states have not shown
disposition to fulfill their treaty obligations.
Pueyrredons contention that unless the league
includes every civilized nation it is not league
of nations but league of some nations is un-
questionably we'll founded. The admission of for
enemy states must be accomplished if the
league is to be an effective guaranty of peace but
the dissemination of the members TO admit these
states at this time does not mean by any means
their perpetual exclusion.
Even the bitter antsgonsm of France must be
overcome sooner later by the pressure of the
sentiment for the inclusion of Germany which has
already manifested itself.
The inclusion of unrecognized states as men,
bers without vote would saddle the league with
the responsibilities Of maintaining boundaries which
have never been delirnited
The proposal that the international court should
have compulsory jurisdiction is one which has re-
ceiyed popular support at, Geneva and sooner or
later must be adopted a most important agency
for the prevention of
Americans generally would have been pleased
had the league acted fayorably the proposal of
the Canadian delegation which would eliminate
Article X. In spite Of the precedent established
- the league in the case presented by NJ Motta,
Is obvious that the covenant would not suffer if
the offending article eliminated, and thereby
the possibility of further Interpretation would be
definitely removed
The action of the Canadians who have agreed
that their amendment should receive the same
treatment the others, Is more likely to result in
its final adoption than the summary methods of
the Argentine delegates. Meanwhile the precedent |
established in the of Switzerland stands
II i absurd TO point to the failure of the league