Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

force and to substitute in their stead
provisions calling for mediation. ad-
judication and adjustment" He would
have back of the league tho force OF
public opinion instead of the force Of
arms.
Initiative With u. 8.
In the opinion Of Senator Pepper,
expressed while he was In Washing
ton last week, If there Is to be a
proposal for such a revision of the
league of nations, 1t must come from
the government of the United States
to the league of nations. There are
fifty-two nations now constituting the
league, he pointed out. and 1t would
not be reasonable to expect the league
to enter upon a proposed revision
particularly without some assurance
from the United States government
that IL the revision were made this
country would enter the league. Such
a proposal to the league, he said.
would necessarily go through the
usual diplomatic channels of the gov
eminent, provided 1T was first decided
that the United States desired to take
part in the league. The move for the
| revision of the league could be made.
he said, either through the executive
department of the government on its
| own initiative or in pursuance to a
congressional resolution urging that
steps be taken.
Among the republicans are prori-
| nent members of Congress and on
| Gals who fear that If the admins
tration gets behind any proposition
either for the revision OF the league
| of nations or for entrance of this
| country into the permanent world
court esta blished through the league
| it is going to mean a split in the
party, thereby insuring democratic
victory at the polls in 1924. They see
| the Johnsons, the Borahs, the La Fol-
| lettes. the Moses and the Brandegees
| fading away from the party. when.
admittedly, the republicans need all
| their strength.
, But II the republicans as a party
within the next twelve months do
| not get behind either a proposal for
| an association of nations or a re-
| vised league Of nations. 1t is a good
| BIT that the foreign relations Of this
| country and the league idea will be
! a dominant issue in the elections.
with the democrats UNFOLDING tho
! league idea.
A Matter OF Evolution.
1t will be remembered that at the
time OF the Washington conference.
/ Justice Sutherland of the Supreme
Court. a close friend Of the President,
| and at that time chairman OF the
| special advisory committee to the
American delegation, said that he
| believed an association OF nations
would be an evolution" when he was
| asked If the then conference might
bring that matter to the fore. The
conference idea, he said, might be
expected to grow and develop. 1t
| may be said that the democrats be-
| lieve the evolution" Is now proceed
ing.
| Headed by former Justice Clarke
\ of the Supreme Court, there is non
| partisan association now working to
bring about the entrance OF the
United States into the league of
| nations. 1t has Its branches In all
parts of the country. It ia proper
| to recall, too, that tho United States
would have now been q member OF
| the league Of nations had former Pres
ident Wilson been willing to accept the
Lodge reservations to the covenant.
What would the voters say today, II
they were asked to indorse a proposal
that the United States enter the league,
| with reservations equally strong as
those proposed by Senator Lodge, o.
even stronger? That is what politi-
clans are asking themselves. And the
democrats, in their proposed revision O.
the league, are willing to 60 to furthe.
extents than ever did the Lodge reser-
vattonS3 :,