Evening star., 1924-09-14
by OLIVER OWEN KUHN.
. HE truth of the old adage tina
"where there is a will there /;

" HE truth of the old adage that
where there is a will there is
way" never was more truth
i fully exemplified than in Ge-
neva. where members of tho
League of Nations have decided that
the future peace of the world depends
upon arbitral arrangements whereby
recalcitrant forces may be curbed by
moral, financial and political suasion-
military II need be.
When Premier Macdonald of Eng
land, week before last, arose before
the assembly and declared the thing
can be done, should be done and If
the statesmen of other powers CO.
operate unselfishly, would be done.
there prevailed skepticism through
out the world. Not until Premier
Herriot of France seconded the speech
with the declaration that arbitration,
security and disarmament could be
achieved, did the delegates express
more than a hope that true idealism
should after all govern international
considerations. Then it was the
trend toward arbitration of differ
ences and curtailment of armaments
gained full impetus.
During the past week there has
been stampede toward the general
principle of arbitration, Geneva's op-
timism that the thing can be made
practical with consequent reduction
of dangers involved in the present
mad race of great armament, has been
contagious. In England, France and
Belgium, not to speak of the United
States, misgivings have been fading
and, as a consequence, 1T may be said
that the general keyStones essential
to perpetual peace have been hewn
as at no time in modern history. The
reason is, there is a will that the
thing be done. There is desire that
selfish nationaliSm become paSSe dur
ing the proposed new era of interna-
tionalism. Statesmen in Geneva have
their heads together and are deter
mined that something shall eventu-
ate from the scheme. There may be
many plans proposed and all may be
disca rded before fixed adjustment of
differences between nations can be
achieved. but it apparently is a GER
1ainty that some, such good will be
gained to the everlasting credit and
advance of the Old World nations. now
worm-eaten with suspicion, jealousy
and covetousness.
Want s'Teeth. I'm Compact.
Generally speaking, there is de-
sire that teeth" be placed into any
arrangement. By teeth" statesmen
mean obligatory sanctions whereby
the moral and even military forces
of all member nations shall be
thrown into the fray in case any
nation dares defy arbitraI decisions
once rendered. 1t is needless to say
that no nation or small group of ma
tions could stand in the face Of CO.
ordinated financial, social, political
and economic pressure from the ball
ance of nations subscribing to the
Geneva agreement. =
One of the most hopeful features
of the whole proposition is that
countries remaining neutral jim the
great war have lent their support
to the idea of sanctions. The Scandi-
navian nations, though not promis-
ing use of military sanctions, have
agreed that In financial and economic
ways they will Join any effort to
maintain world or continental equi-
librium? South America, too, AL
though it has been pointed out. the
peed of sanctions in this quarter
are remote, has given it's consent to
the general plan of arbitrating diff
ferences under penalty of sweeping
punishment. Only nations not mem
bers of the League of Nations would
remain out, and the chief of these