Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1922-10-11
WISDOM OF KEEPING OUT
OF LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Would Have Been Mixed in Pre.ent
Near East War Had We
Been Member.

! Ah' iSiuS"i VI tne NepuDllCan SeH-
ate TO ratify the Treaty of Versailles
and the Covenant of the League of
Nations is once more being vindicated
by events in Europe. By this refusal
the United States was kept out of the
League of Nations. Her membership
therein would have bound her irrevoc-
ably to participate in all European
matters; to have helped maintain the
boundaries and division of territory as
fixed by the Treaty of Versailles.
Europe is again on the verge of a
general war involving practically all
the nations that were allied against
Germany during the World War. This
new war is made imminent by the
war which has been going on between
Greece and Turkey over boundaries
and territory which were fixed by the
Treaty of Versailles.
The war between these two nations
is IN itself i'll defiance of the Treaty of
Versailles AID the League of Nations.
The TACT that it has been going on is
conclusive proof Of the futilty and inn
potency of the League of Nations.
whose sole excuse for existence is its
pretended ability to maintain peace
in Europe, primarily, and throughout
the world as secondary Consideration.
AT no time since the creation of the
League of Nations has there been
peace in Europe although none of the
wars that have been going on since
the League was created has approach
ed the magnitude of the war between
Turkey and Greece. Greece was
signatory power TO the Treaty of Ver-
sailles and the League of Nations, and
as such was entitled tohavc all of her
rights and territory protected by the
other members OF the League. This
has not been done, either because the !.
League Of Nations Is ufiWitlis}g . nfve
up to its prententions or because it is
unable to do So Either situation is
condemnation of the League and its
pretentions.
If the United States were now
member of the League of Nations,
there is not the least doubt but that
she would have long since been called
upon to engage actively in this en-
broglio, probably in the form of send
ing an army in the disputed territory
to police it and act as buffer between
the warning powers.
In fact, it will be recalled that at
the Paris Conference it was strongly
urged that the United States be made
responsible for Turkey and tnat her
part as member of the League of
Nations would be to preserve peace in
the Near East, which has always been
the plague spot of Europe. 1t was
suggested she be given mandate
over the Arme mans and over the Holy
Land. Had this been done the Unit
ed States would now be directly in
volved in the Turkinsh war, at great
expense of men and money, while
Europe would be sitting back prepared
to take advantage of anything that
might come out of the settlement.
In this connection it is interesting
to note that at the recent meeting OF
the council Of the League of Nations
it was announced the League had re-
ceive encouraging reports Of reduc-
ton of armaments in various count
tries. According to this statement,
Great Britain reported at 55 percent
reduction in naval tonnage, France
Japan 50 percent and Italy 4o
per cent.
For the League of Nations to claim
any credit for this showing is most
All of this reduction
Of naval armament is due solely and
directly to the Washington Confer
ance for the Limitation of Armaments.
rhe reductions made have been made
n accordance with treaties concluded
1t that Conference. The only prog
-ess toward peace and the reduction
IF ornaments which the League OF
Nations has to report is that brought
about by the United States acting in
of the League of Nations.
1t should be further emphasized that
1ad the United States been member
of the League of Nations she could
not have called the Washington Con-
ference and could not have proposed
he disarmament program which she
did propose and force through, be-
:ause it would have been violation
of the League of Nations covenant
% have done so.-Ex.