New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-29

.
Justice supplemented by n world as
| ISOLATION for conference, Or the one
hand, and the council Of the league, on
the other.
The Difference
"Thc difference between n court of
international justice and the council
created by the league covenant is sim
pie but profound
"The one is judicial tribunal to be
governed by fixed and definite prin-
ciples Of law administered without pas
sion or pre- judice. The other ia an
association Of diplomats and polti-
clans whose determinations arc sure
to be Influenced by considerations of
cxpedicncy and national selhshhess
The difference is one with which
Americans arc familiar. the old and
fundamental difference between gov
eminent of laws and a government of
| men.
II do not mean to say, nor do l
mean to permit any such construction,
that would decline to cooperate with
other nations in an honest endeavor
to prevent wars. Nobody living would
take. that position. Tho only question
| DTuCLlCuDllltV
within the bounds prescribed by funda-
mental principles.
There are distinctly two types of
international relationship. One is an
offensive and defensive alliance of
great powers, like that created at Yer
sailles. to impose their will upon the
helpless peoples of the world. Frank
ly, | am opposed to such n scheme as
that, and l speak knowingly when
say that the associated powers, with
whom we fought the war, were re-
luctant to accept such a proposition.
IL am opposed to the very thought
of our Republic becoming a party to
so great an outrage upon other peO-
pies, who have as good right to seek
their political freedom as we had in
| l776, and have the same right to dcvel-
opng eminence under the inspiration
of nationality as we held for ourselves
The Other Type
"The other type is society of free
nations, or an association of free ma
tiohs, or league of free nations, ami
mated by sidcrations of right and
justice, instead of might and self-in-
terest, and not merely proclaimed an
agency in pursuit of peace, but 50 or
gained and so participated in as to
make the actual attainment of peace a
reasonable possibility. Such an asso-
citation | favor with all my heart, and
| would make no fine distinction as to
whom credit is due. One need not
care what it is called. Let it be an
association, a society, or a league, or
what not, our concern is solely with
the substance, not the form thereof.
This is proposing no new thing
This country is already member Of
such a society-the Hague Tribunal
which, unlike the league of Versailles,
is still functioning, and within a few
weeks will resume its committee SEES
sions under the craftsmanship of an
American representatives
Cause of Failure Apparent
"In that body we have the frame
work of a really effective instrument
tality of enduring peace. The fact that
the tribunal did not prevent the great
war is, of course, manifest, but the
cause Of the failure is no less apparent
Germany, already secretly determined
upon ruthless invasion, was able to
prevent the adoption OF measures
which might have proved eifectual.
The condition now is wholly different.
Not only Germany, but the entire world
has prohted to the extent of an awful
| object lesson, the impressions of which
4 NoHNOC DS cIdScu from the human
mind for generations to come The
horrors of war and the ca@erness for
peace have become universal. What
once seemed at The Hague to be mere
academic discussion has become a posi-
tive, outstanding need Of facing terri
tying actualities. This makes vastly
easier the task Of so strengthening
the Hague Tribunal as to render its
| just DEGREES either acceptable or en-
! !
advocates of the league of Versailles
to contrast unfavorably the Hague
Tribunal upon the ground that the
tribunal lacks teeth
Let's Install the Teeth
very well, then, let's put teeth into
it. IT, in the failed league of Versailles,
there can be found machinery which
the tribuna! can use properly and ad-
vantageously, by all means let it be
appropriated. | would even 90 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 sugges-
ton that if the league, which has here
! tofore rlveted our considerations and
apprehensions, has been so cntwined
and interviewer into the peace Of Eu-
rope that It's good must be preserved
IN order to stabilize the peace of that
continent, then it can be amended or
revised SO that we may still have a
remnant Of world aspirations in 1918
builded into the worlds highest con-
ccpton of helpful cooperation in the
ultimate realization.
81 believe humanity would welcome
the creation of an international .asso-
citation for conference and a world
court whose Verdicts upon justiciabe
question: this country, in common
with all nations would be both willing
and able to uphold. The decision Of
such court or the recommendations
of such conference could be accepted
without sacrificing on our part or ask
ing any other power to sacrifice one
iota of its nationality.
Already Abandoned by Europe
"The Democratic nominee has spoken
about America abandoning her asso-
ciates in war and deserving the Allied
+ nations in establishing the League of
/ Versailles. | do not think it longer
@slNIIIIInIIHssilIlIa NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.