Evening star., 1924-01-12
Box Plan Reopens Controversy
Concerning League of Nations

The controversy over the prize-win-
ming plan submitted under the Box
peace award is increasing rather than
diminishing. Opponents of any par
ticipation by the United States In
world affairs are frantic in their de-
nunciation of the method proposed.
characterizing it as propaganda of
the "yIlest" sort. Editors favorable
to termination of the existing policy
Of isolation are equally sincere In
their paeons of praise. There seems
little middle ground. Those who are
not for Ii are against it and that is
all there Is to 1t.
Because of the character of the men
who made the award, the New York
Times argues strenuously that ANY
man who from now on seeks to make
fun of the plan will make himself RI
diculous," although the Times feels
the best part of 1t is in the pream-
BILE" emphasizing the historic policy
Of the United States, and hopes the
result of the referendum Will show
the real viewpoint of the people OF
tho country toward ordering a change
in existing foreign relations. In this
connection the Baltimore Sun believes
"two questions will have 10 be an
swered before the utility OF the VIM
ming plan in achieving the end sought
can be appraised. The 1rst is now
will the league itself view the sug-
gestions made, and the second, are
the proposals Of such nature as TO
answer all valid criticisms raised In
this country against American partic-
ipation? The Boston Transcript would
like to have pointed out what IL is
that the United States is expected TO
do that II has not done and that It Is
not now ready to do without parttci-
uattng in the league? The winning
plan has the merit of being indisput-
ably right on one point, even thougn
II is at the expense of being Illogical
II ends with the statement which un-
dermines It's proposals to join. an ex-
elusive court, ETC.. by admitting that
ANYTHING less than world conference
must incur the suspicion OF being an
alliance rather than a family of na-
tions.
y X X
The Stars position is that there
should be no surprise that the win
ming plan is simply a proposition that
the United States adhere to the Per-
manent Court of International Justice
and cooperate with the league of ma
tions," and it also emphasizes. what
most editors apparently have forgot
ten, that public approval of the
prize-winning plan is not assured"
The Star also points out the prejudice
that had arisen prior to the announce
ment OF the plan and suggests this
'imay affect the recorded Judgment
of the people voting in the referen-
dunn. The Syracuse Herald suggests,
however, "the points now to be
submitted for the referendum are
reasonably simple, and it will be all
the easier to vote upon them
impartially, because the proponents
identity 10 for the present un-
revealed" It will also be an ex'
cellent development, as the Topeks
Capital sees 1t. should the referendum
bring. a strong. popular response
kee Journal argues the plan meets
every objection that was honestly
raised against the league Of nations
The Des Moines Register insists that
before anything can be done consfd-
Grafton has got to turn TO preiimi-
Eary matter, and that is the organiza'
tion of little minority In the Senate
to monopolize our foreign relations
by taking advantage of the two-thirds
rule"
'aThe plan is ingenious" Is the ver'
diet of the Newark News. 1T com
bines sound legal knowledge with
political astuteness. Congress viii
| find IL hard to turn 1t down" Thti
also Is the opinion Of the Brooklyn
Eagle, which suggests as a natiof
thtnkcth In its heart SO IL is also
w America thinks peace. wants peace