Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-12
Backing the League.


the League Of Nations that it proceed
with its efforts to effect a peaceful
settlement of the dispute between Japan
and China as the most effective means
of avoiding war. This country, while
reserving the right to act independ-
emily in the interests Of peace If neces-
sary. has given the League assurance
that 1t will cooperate In this critical
juncture
Obviously it is the duty of the League
Of Nations to maintain peace in this
instance If 1t can do so. Both of the
disputants are members of the League
They have laid their cases before the
League Council. The League provides
permanent machinery for handling such
disputes, machinery that already has
been tested and proved effective. The
United States Is interested in peace
between the two great Asiatic nations,
as the whole world must be interested.
The situation which has arisen in the
Far East, however, again demonstrates
the need Of an adequate machinery for
the peaceful settlement of international
differenceS-such a machinery as has
been set UP by the members of the
the Kellogg multilateral treaty by
which all the great nations renounce
war as a means of settling international
differences The United States is not
foremost part in its negotiation. The
treaty relies upon the good faith Of
the nations involved and upon public
opinion throughout the world. Not only
certed pressure to hold its signatories
to this important remuneration of war.
but it sets up no machinery to bring
disputants together for peaceful set
tlement Of their troubles.
The opposition of Americans to en-
try into the League of Nations has been
widespread, on the theory that this
country should not mix in the political
affairs Of the old world. But even the
opponents of entry into the League in
this country have expressed a hope that
1t may be effective in working out sat
isfactorily the differences which have
arisen from time to time between for
eign nations. The present attitude of
the American Government Is certainly
complimentary, at least, to the League
and what 1t stands for. The United
States today stands not only outside
the League of Nations, but has so far
failed to become member of the World
Court, that permanent organization set
up for the adjudication Of interna-
tlonaf disputes. 1t Is now proposed
that the United States become a MEM
Der OF that court, with proper safe
guards for American independence of
the political quarrels of foreign nations
and for maintaining the right of this
country to independent action. The
Senate of the United States is soon tn
be called upon to act again upon a
protocol Of adherence to the court
The protocol deserves the most serious
consideration.
The days when nation fought nation
and the rest of the world looked on.
comparatively free from the effects of
the struggle, have passed into history.
An international war=today affects the
peoples OF far distant countries. al
though those nations are not directly
involved. No one doubts that a seri-
Gus conflict between China and Japan
would contain the possibilities of a
grave world situation. Anything that
the League Of Nations and the United
States can do to avert such a conflict.
either independently or comparatively.
should be welcomed.