The Republican journal., 1920-11-04
LEAGUE LOSING SUPPORT

Sixteen of the thirty-two original sign
ers of the Covenant of the League of Ma
tons have combined population about
one-third that of the United States. In
not one of these is English the language
of the people. If our country becomes
member of the league, without reserva-
tions, we undertake to respect and pre-
serve as against external aggression the
territorial integrity and political inde-
pendence" of every one of these little ma
items. This is part of the covenant
clearly and definitely stated in Article
10, and should be regarded as solemn
obligation by every member of the
league We believe the people of the
United States would so regard it.
If Japan should attempt to take the
Sandwich Islands. or if England should
undertake to annex part of the State of
Maine to Canada, as proposed by Sir An
drew Pash, does any advocate Of the
league believe that any one of these six
teen little nations would do anything to
help US preserve our territorial integri-
typ" Even if they wanted to do so,
they could do nothing effective. None
Of Them have an army or a navy worthy
ch name, they have no transports, mu-
nj tons, artillery, battle planes or tanks
To great many practical people in this
country it, therefore, appears that by
Joining the League under the require
Enents of Article 10, the United States
would assume tremendous and dangerous
responsibilities without a hope of the
slightest benefit to herself. To those
who are for America first it does not ap
pear to be what is called So so PROPOSE
ton, as between the United States on
enc hand and any one or all of these little
nations on the other. In fact, none of
the strong nations in the league regard
them as an asset of any Importance under
the covenant in its present form
Most of the small nations have discov-
cred that the covenant puts them under
a guardian in whose selection they have
no voice. They have noted too that the
covenant does not say anything about
self determination and some of them are
beginning to clamor for a revision of the
covenant. England, France, Italy, Bel
GUM and Japan have now become aware
that the United States will not Join them
IN military guardianship of nearly all
the world, and will not covenant to help
them fight their battles for territorial
Integrity and existing political independ
ence' without constitutional authority
given by Congress to the President as
commander chief. The consequence
is they have lost their interest in the
league. They are willing to add such
reservations as the United States Senate
demands. Leon Bourgeois, president of
11he Supreme Council of the League, goes
.Eurt her than that. A few days ago, he
said, in substance, that Article 10 may
well be eliminated. He said also that
the Council could not propose such action
but individual members, may, of course,
propose such amendments as they see
fit" This seems somewhat like an invi-
tation to suggest amendments The As
sembly of the League will meet at Gene
va in few days and it is probable that
the session will be protracted one and
that nothing of much importance will
be DONE Discussion of the league will
De live topic for some time. 1t does
not now seem probable that President
Wilson and our Senate can come to any
agree ment concerning it, and the foreign
powers may be expected to mark time
ill after the fourth of March, 1921, when
our next President will be inaugurated
and the newly elected senators will take
their seats. After that the issue is in
the lap of the GODS We believe peace
pact will be formed in which the United
States will join. We do not believe Ar
ticle 10 or anything else will be in that
pact, which will pledge any member
-Ghereof to engage in war under the direc-
Lion of Supreme Council composed of
nine men. We believe that pact will be
K nown as the League of Nations and will
De revised and improved edition of the
Hague Conventions, which did much for
the peace of the world.