The Cordova daily times., 1921-01-10
COURT
 OF NATIONS IS
 NOT IN FAVOR
BY COL. WINFIELD JONES.

respondenCe) The League of Ma
 tions, as proposed by NIr Wilson, hay
 ing been thrown into the discard by
 big majority of the people in the No vember elections, those who still fav-
 or a league are continuing their aC-
 tivities along those lines. Several well defined efforts are being made, CamOUflaged it seems to many Observ- CTS in Washington, for a new league, though under different names.
 One of these efforts is sponsored
 by Elihu Root, of New York, former senator and former secretary of war and of state. MT. Roots proposal
 has the pleasing name of Court of Nations" or something of the kind, but it is the same old league scheme
 masquerading under an alias. MT.
 Root is "hooked up" to the great in.
 terests in New York that want a league for the simple purpose of mak- ing the United States the armed guar
 antor of any debts that might be con.
 tracted in America by European na-
 tions, according to the opinion of
 many members of congress who op- posed the original Wilson league. These congressman believe that MT, Roots scheme is no better than the
 original league, and they want none
 of it. MT. Root has been observed recently at Marion the home of Sen.
 ator Harding, where the New Yorker carried on, it is reported, long con- versations with MT. Harding concern
 ing the new scheme fostered by MT.
 Root and his able associates.
 Another effort being made along
 this country have repudiated the league in the national elections, is the agitation for total disarmament or partial disarmament of the principal nations. This is being discussed in London and TOkio, and is now one of the chief conversational topics in the Hobbies and the cloakrOOms at the capital. Maneuvers of various kinds are noticed at the capital among cer- tain groups of senators, which seem to be directed at a well laid scheme
 of propaganda for the disarmament proposal The favorite argument for disarmament of the nations is that the world is facing bankruptcy and as
 billions are being spent for armies and navies it would be only the part class powers to disarm or at any rate reduce their huge engines of de- struction, thereby reducing the taxes and relieving the international finan- cia1 situation. A resolution of Sen ator Walsh, of Montana, is pending which urges cooperation of the Unit ed States with the impotent European league already functioning at Geneva, with a view to reduction of arma- ments. Other resolutions along the same line may be expected Senator Borah has introduced one calling on the president to negotiate with Lon- don and Tokio for reduction of arma- ments. Probably we shall soon hear in the senate of a resolution calling for a new international commission on disarmament with the United States as the prime mover in such a plan. All these resolutions are mani festly only substitutes for the original Wilson league. There is a general sentiment in the senate that the gi. gantic waste caused by expenditures for armies and navies should be halt ed. The rub is how to do it. All the resolutions have that goal in view.
 Meanpwhile Japan, warlike as ever. announces that unless the United States enters the league or agrees to disarm, partially at least, the Tolzio government will be compelled to keep on building ships and cruisers. There is one ray of comfort for Americans who might be frightened by the Jap, anese announcement and that is that Japan cannot possibly build as many war ships as the United States or build them as fast.
 One thing that is causing many sen. ators and representatives to ardently desire some sort of a scheme that will reduce armaments is the demand of the U. s. army and navy for $1,- 6OO,OOO, ,O0O appropriations for the next fiscal year. Europe owes the United States $1O,OOO,OOOOOO, money Dor. rowed during the war and in addi. tion nearly $4,OOO,OOO,OOO for goods bought since the armistice. These goods cannot possibly be paid for for long time in view of the desperate financial status of most of the Euro. pean countries. Yet every European