Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01

A now foreign minister, adds his
name to long list Of peace lovers
Of many nations.
Some of these names. like those OF
Henry VI of France-who probably does
not deserve the distinction-William
Penn and Emmanuel Kant, are familiar
to everybody. Others, like that of the
Able de St Pierre and John Boilers, are
less widely known.
Brands plan differs from that of
any of his predecessors in one striking
particular-it proposes a federation
statesman the twentieth century has to
reckon with a fact which did not and
could not enter into the dreams of
earlier political philosophers. That
fact is the League of Nations, going
concern which gives the name of an
American, Woodrow Wilson, a special
place in the roster of those who have
peace with one another instead of a
discordant group of countries forever
fighting.
Subjects of Study Are Economic.
But since the League of Nations is in
existence, going concern, why an
other federation, especially one which
would frankly be subordinate to the
League? When BRAND first put his idea
forward. it was supposed that the new
federation would deal with economic
matters, as the League deals with polit-
zeal matters. But the plan as actually
set forth places political union first and
economic organization second. Yet
most of the specific subjects which
BRAND mentions as suitable for study
BY the federation are economic.
These subjects include tariffs, public
works, communication and transporta-
ton, finance, labor questions, hygiene,
intellectual cooperation and interpar-
liamentary relations. Some of these sub
jectS, as labor questions and intellectual
cooperation, have already been under
taken by the League of Nations. In
reference to them there would have
agreement upon spheres of influence, SO
to speak-between the League and the
federation
There could be no dispute between the
two organizations upon this point, for
BRAND states squarely that the fedora
ton cannot substitute itself for the
League of Nations in tasks confined to
that bo6y by pact or treaties" and that
~even IN It's own domain of the organi-
Z Eation Of Europe it should coordinate
Its particular activities with the general
activity of the League of Nations"
This declaration, however, will hardly
prevent the SatiristS-of whom Brands
own country has its full quota-from
slyly suggesting the formation of a
super federated League of Nations to
decide questions arising between the
BRAND federation and the League or
to prevent actual hostilities from break
ing out between them.
The plans of most of Brands pred
eceSsors in the business of fedora
ton making were much less compre-
hensive than his. All they aimed at
was an international organization
which might reduce or eliminate the
likelihood or the possibility of war,
But one of the most famous of these
plans, the Grand DeSsein of Henry ~,
stopped at nothing.
This plan, according TO the story,
was formed by the French monarch
the daShing Henry of Navarre-duly
set down in the memoirs of his minis
ter of finance and favorite, the Due
de Sully, in 1884 and discovered nearly
a century latter by the Able de st.
Pierre, who found the book buried in
an old garden.
History takes the credit for the plan
from the King and gives it to the min
ister but 1t was polite to ascribe Il
to the monarch in the first place, be-
cause the ascription might win for 1t
something of the popularity of the
King and also enable it to avoid Great
ing offence in important political circles.
Balance Of Power Proposed.
The great design proposed to divide
Europe among Is nations in such a
way that the balance of power should
be established and preserved. These
Is nations were to form jointly
Christian republic, based upon the free
dom and the equality of its members.
The armed forces of the federated
republic were 10 be supported by hxed
contributions-as the expenses of the
League of Nations are met.
There was to be a general council,
composed of representatives from the Is
nations, which was to make all laws
that might be deemed necessary for
consolidating the union and maintaining
1t The members of the council, or
senate, were also to deliberate on Ques-
tons that might arise, to occupy them
selves with discussing different interests,
to settle quarrels amicably. to throw
light upon and arrange all the civil,
political and religious affairs of Eu-
rope, whether internal or foreign"
A rather large order, but 1t lost none
of its vastness at the hands of its dis
coverer and expounder, the Able de st.
Pierre, who had an eye-and a will
for details. The able did not conf1ne
himself to Is nations. He proposed a
perpetual union-how many perpetual
unions have been proposed in this world
Which never were formed at all or soon
broke hopeleSSly! The able proposed a
perpetual union of all Christian
sovereigns, of whom he suggested as
many as 10 the Gar being excluded,
this union ito preserve unbroken peace
IN Europe"
There was to be permanent congress
or senate, composed of deputies Of the
federated nations The union was to
protect weak sovereigns (no pretense
about republic here), minor heirs
apparent during regency, and so on,
and to put an end to both civil and
international war.
Revolutions to BE Impossible"
Revolutions were to be made impossi-
bic, for the union was TO render
prompt and adequate assistance TO
rulers and chief magistrates against
seditious persons and rebels"
Despite the avowed aim OF "unbroken
peace in Europe" wars were not
excluded from consideration-in the
Jargon of our day they were not "un-
thinkable"-but they would be very
different from preceding wars, for they
would be waged, not between nation
and nation or alliance and alliance, but
between the federation and the enemy
or enemies Of European security.
whether those enemies were outsiders
or insurrectionary members of the
union. Here is a distinct forecast OF
the central aim Of the League of Ma
tons.
The troops at the disposal of the
union were TO be made up of con-
tingents contributed equally by its
member nations. Disputes arising
within the union were TO be settled, If
possible. by arbitration compulsory
arbitration-the general council or SEN