South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-09
THE FINAL ADMISSION


-. So. ,o+birp moro than 70 strfkingly demon
,e-ats the necessity for permanent and continuing
s..oosation of nations. its conference would be
justified.
Each step in the deliberations has laid more
enophasis on the final necessity OF some organiza-
ton OF the world which viii maintain peace through
friendship and arbtrament. II civilization Is to en-
durs.
r. vas difficult task for an administration that
vent into power on an issue OF keeping out OF the
rae,e 20 meet the conditions OF the world and save
ts own face
For slowly and inevitably the United States Is
becoming a part OF the great concert OF nations
and very sureIy and slowly It will be brought home
that the League. to which practically every other
nation on earth save the United states gave assent
and OF which they now members, Is the proper
BODY and vehicle of expression.
It remained for Ellhu Root always friend OF
the League OF Nations in principle although po-
lttical foe OF woodrow Wilson, with whose name II
viii be forever linked TO put the admission OF the
reoesaitv OF the League into words and to confess
that the decisions Of this conference are futile unless
the rest Of the world join in their sanction
That admission came when he drafted the rules
for submarine warfare-rues which simply say that
these assassins Of the sea viii sink commercial
vessels or duplicate the destruction OF the Lusitania
in the event OF
After the rules were agreed to- this significant
paragraph was added:
THE sgnatOry powers invite all other CIVILIZED
powers 20 express their assent to the foregoing
statement Of established law that there may
be . clear public understanding throughout the
world OF the standards OF conduct by which the
public opinion OF the world is pass judgment
upon future bengerents."
There It ts the final admission that all nations,
great and small. give their vote for peace
before there be real peace.
The place where the assent OF all civilized
TONS except Germany. Russia and the United
States can be obtained is in the League OF Nations
for al others are members.
Had the United states ratified the Versailles
treaty, the gathering at washington would be a
meeting these nations. not nine.
The proposals for reducing the horror of war
II war can be robbed Of any of it's horror. which
is doubtful, would be submitted for the public
action OF all these nations.
The agreement to this proposal and the open
voicing Of the appeal viii be most welcome to the
onstrated that nations can get together and work
out problems but admits that all nations
on earth parties that agreement.
Whatever the organization may be called-asso-
citation. conference league the world learning
that It needs a meeting place. And that
would be worth all the trouble Of the conference.
Even such demonstration Is a sign of hope. no mat
ter how much disappointment may come from the
futile decisions so far made.
Il might almost be said that the United States is
half inside the League already. when it asks in
plain, open words for the approval OF all nations
which members OF that league and shows de-
termination to live terms of open agreement with
them.