The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-21

SDeciut cable 70 TIE New YORK HgRALo
Copyright. 1920. ~ TIE NEW YORK HERArn
New Yorl, Herald Bureau,
London, Nov. 90.
That the British disposition regard
ing the League of Nations is one OF
suspicion is we'll illustrated this week
in an editorial in the Daily Sketch,
that most popular daily picture paper
in the all important and powerful
Hutton group. The Sketchs editorial
columns are hippant. 1t gets away as
far as possible from the ti-...orcrS
pomposity OF the usual British leaders.
It's breezy gossip and style give II
wide and popular appeal.
The writer OF the editorial on IN
League says:
II wonder II President Wilson az
fair. which held its first fun dress
soiree at Geneva this week. will go dove
to posterity as the Fourth information
ale / am not laughing at the League
for the very simple reason that 1t rep
resents a noble idea. But the Tower OF
Babel was built before the White House
at washington, and as far as II wen'
the Tower of Babel was a noble Idea
too.
'eThe tower. you will remember, was
built on the plain OF Shinar by the DC
scendants of Noah, the inventor OF arkS
and the first man who ever got drunk.
The tower was TO reach into heaven,
but never got there.
Described by Milton.
Milton describes the end of it thus
God comes down to see their ei''
and in derision sets
hefr
Gu, their native language and instead
To SOW wrangling noise OK words uH
rorthvyith a hidoous babble rises loud
Among the builders. each to other calls
Not understood. Thus was the
Ridicuious e and the work Confusion
named.
"a confusion OF minds is as hampering
p thing as q confusion OF tongues, anu
when the people who are running the
League OF Nations get their ninus
straightened out they won't want TO run
1t any more.
II notice that one Of the commentators
who believes in 1t has to sdmit TINS
much
.Tt lacks austerity and spirituality
and il II creating too many fat Jo5s.
Instead OF being in the spirit OF john
the Baptist 4. seems likely TO develop
into soullcss. bureaucratic machine
We gee swarms Of clerks and typists
and an endless scurrying TO and fro ot
crowds OF people who are falling over
each other much printing and letter
writing. and everybody as mysteriousiy
busy as ants and no biz central idea
driving the whole business along.
And the big central idea whicl
presumably ought 10 be driving the whole
business along Is described by our
ardent advocates as follows
1.-The first real task of the League OF
Nations IS TO preach the conclusion
reached in its own Brussels conference,
which Is that ali governments must cut
down expenditures II Europe is TO be
sayed
II do not know how much the Leasue
Of Nations Is going 10 cost the British
Government in hard cash But l know
this. namely. that at Geneva the reduc-
ton OF expenditure will mean nothing
more or Jess than a reduction Of arna-
ments and with Germany already splut-
tering for the next great war Mr.
Trotzky In two minds as 20 whether H.
shouldn't change his name 20 Napoleon
ski. at least one out Of fifty-three states
represented in tho 'so-called parliament
OF man Will think twice before IL parts
Win even 30 uucA as announcer Q4AE t't "a
an inch Of It's sure shield
safety First sound Motto.
safety FIRST no matter who prom
ises to be kind 70 you. is sound enough
FOR q working motto IN these days, and
If safety costs bit. e won't cost
half so much IN the long run as our
chief old friend uuprcparedness
III afty-two out OF hfty-three states
represented at Geneva--and. mind you
America isn't there. and Russia isn't
there. and Germany isn't thcrc--were
to agree 20 disarm tomorrow. 80 much
TO the good But with Josh Daniels
about and Napolconsh about and Bern
hardi and Ludendorff and Won linden
burg still in the land Of the living I
can see myself going UP the street with
out my tin waistcostl
'Tf you want my honest opinion %
the matter. the FIRST task OF the League
OF Nations SHOULD be 20 wire home for
money ard 70 get back on the way
Wars aren't finished. III we had finished
the last one in style there wouldn't be
another ono for at least a century As
IL ie-Wcli wait and see 4"