Evening star., 1923-04-29
Would Make the Golden Rule
II Basis for League of Nations

political expediency that 1 would be
the last man In the world to utter q
single word of criticism against any
man who finds 1t necessary so to vote,
be construed as criticism at all. is not
personal to any man. I merely call
| attention to the attitude Of the poll
ticians and the leaders of public
thought in their relations toward the
league. II a question is not to be
submitted to the league when II has
a bearing upon politics, particularly
when 1t has bearing upon the poll
tics OF one or more of the dominant
countries in the league, fear. though
Will grow up a sentiment that the
league is simply a parent government
to keep unruly children nations
within proper bounds.
r x u
Lord Robert found a country which
in language and law claims to be
Anglo-Saxon. but which in blood and
racial tendencies is no such thing.
He doubtless observed. wise man that
he is. that America is made up of
many men Of many minds, and IL he
fell in with any opponents OF the
league he probably learned that a
large part Of our population desires
the doctrine Of self-determination to
be imposed along racial rather than
geographical lines. We have differ
ent kinds OF blood in America. and
with not a few of our people blood
prejudices are more pronounced than
their peaceful tendencies. When ask
ed whether the leagues attitude to-
ward moral disarmament would end
In INN Avf to-
India, Mesopotamia and the near east.
Lord Robert quite frankly replied:
Il am prepared to agitate the scrap
ping Of any policy of imperialism.
other country. but I would not advo-
cate any policy leading to the aban-
donment Of any trust Of the weak
unable to take care Of themselves"
Here We have weakness threaten
ing the league in the concrete. When
enough in the opinion of the master
to take care Of himself? Is self
government a thing that Is TO be
handed down from above when, and
not until when. the ruling power
reaches the conclusion that the sub
ject nation is competent to take care
OF itself? II so. Is 1t worth while TO
preach democracy Of the world. to
proclaim to mon their right to estab-
lish for themselves the form Of gov
eTHHleHl unuer "HlCu tHey Niol 10
live. to assert that people have the
right to alter and reform their gov
ernment whenever they choose? Can
we preach this doctrine and at the
same time consent that a govern
ment shall impose its rule upon an
refuse to withdraw its civil and mill
tary officers until II shall voluntarily
reach conclusion that the governed
nation is sufficiently strong and capa-
BILE to govern itself?
would not be put in the attitude
Of arguing that the British empire
should withdraw from any OF its
countries. Until the United States
shall have agreed to enter the league
for any American to make sugges-
tion as to what the league or any
member nation OF il should do. My
country 10 standing aloof. II 1t Is
not willing to take a hand, we ought
not to be censorious with those who
are striving to do something. But
manifestly the question Of co-opera-
tion Of nations looking toward dis
armament, arbitration and the sub
mission OF differences to the decision
or brains ratner tndn or DulletS must
be met and answered in some way.
One thing is sure-thc great ma
tions OF the world are going to be
slow in the future about bankrupting
themselves through war. Yet ques-
tions between nations will exist
questions having to do with prov
inces, satrapies and zones of influ-
ence: with oil reserves and other min
eral resources: with the right to i'm
pose an alien rule upon Peoples which
l;c,, N4f Ir a
vantageous II may be. These Ques-
tions must be amicably settled in
some international forum. Whether
1t Is "the" league. "a" league or an
association OF nations, most OF US
found in which America may join the
nations Of the world in promoting
civilization and establishing world
peace.
Copyrighted, 1923 cIst Centur. Press.)