Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-28
MI. MAnnlNn'S Plan.

There was no surprise at the public
announcement on saturday. ot presl-
don't iiardlngs proposition to have
the present conference ON the Limi-
tation 90 Armamcnta converted into
a continuous body. holding annual sos-
sluna and giving consideration not
only 10 the limitation OF armaments
but m other International problems.
mcludlns new ones as they may arise.
A h probable that he expects Il would
hurenso m membership until it in
cludcd an the leading nations ot the
world, and then become another
League " Nations.
M Harding h among those who
vigorously opposed the entrance of
the United States into the League
" Nations hut he and othr oppo-
nonis of this great international or
nanlFniinn, already working with
plcaslnn success for the actual attain
mcnt ~ world Peace. cannot ignore
che plain fact that Il Ia more than jus
tlfNns IT, existence. Pride stands in
tho way of an acknowledgment Of
thla fact, ana ~ Mr. Harding and
uthvrs who now see the folly of hav-
inH kcpt our country out ~ active
membership IA the real League OF
Nations would provide a substitute
urganiratlon under the title of Asso-
rlatlun of Nations. In tho hope Of
ntaduaily crowding the League into
"a position that might So impair its use-
fulncss es to induce It's mcmhcrs to
abandon their work IN despair and
rive way 90 tho Harding association.
while II IL apparent that Mir. Hard
inrs idea Ia not for another League
~ Nations. hut he and other oppo.
orclsing IN powers of the presen,
hUdy, hut simply an association OF
nations for conference on interna.
tional rfohlems, his idea Of its ulu.
mate permanoney is undoubted. But
u n dlnicuit 60 see how such body
could prove any more authoritative
any more productive % actual result,
than Tho Hague Tribunal. which. foi
all its possibilities and the assurance,
u originally impaired proved of llttl'
avail because Il lacked the authorit,
~ issue mandates confident Of the co
operation 20 all member nations n
thuir enforcement. n must be a hop,
~ sunplan,ins the League of Nation
that sctuates Mr. Harding.
whn, real good an Association o
Nations with merely powers OF con
sldoratlon and edvisomont could a
towards securing and enforcing
World Peace u II not easy 20 see. MI
Roosevelt, IN the days when he wa
no, sc,ua,ed by partisan considera
ilnn, strongly favored an organization
formed ON the lines that constitut
the hesis of the present Iague OF Ma
,lons, Had the present League bee
constituted under different condition.
With ss.ir,Sldent Wilson entirel
eliminated from any connection wit
q, there IL no doubt MIR. Roosevelt
and bis followers would have receive
u with open arms and insisted tina
ouf country become a leading membc
And so, NO doubt Mr.. Hlnrdlng, befor
hls election to the Presidency an
sincc, would have held likewise.
Tho League ~ Nations. since its OF
senise'lon, has deeply impressed eve
iis partisan opponents with the poss
tllltlos ~ its power and usefulness.
has taken up the tasks confronting
and has 'hus Gar worked smoothly an
effectively. II has constituted n
Worlds High Court OF Justice.
which our country is represented. An
already n has shown TO the worl
what grcat good n could accompli-
with the United states sitting at q
councils ~ leading and innuentii
member.
luf the present. other nations ma
comment kindly on Mr lIarding's pr,
posed Association of Nations aud eve
srrvo 30 become affiliated with Il reg,
larry, instead OF ending the intern,
'lonai gatherings with the close
the present Conference. They ca,
net be expected 70 do otherwise
requested by tho President OF n
United States. A creditor cannot a
foid 10 nout those to whom he
ascpy indebted. and creditor natiol