The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-12-05
By WILLIAM C., UTLEY

BY WILLIAM &. u llEf
T the close of the World war,
~ it was the determination Of all
u the participating nations, and
therefore all of the powerful ma
lions of the earth, to establish a
peace that would last for all time to
come.
1t was for this purpose that the
League of Nations idea was brought
forth, an idea which would have all
disputing nations bring their contro-
versieS before a world court, to arbi-
tration or to the attention of the cOun-
Gil of the league before resorting to
warfare. To punish nations which
went to war without first attempting
to have their difficulties Strengthened
out in this manner, the member nations
were agreed to take sanctions against
them.
AS a further assurance against war,
the Kellogg peace pact, definitely re-
nouncing war as an instrument Of ma
tional policy and recognizing the settle
ment of disputes only through peace
able means, was universally signed.
The league, as an instrument of in
ternational peace, had two strikes on 1t
before it began to operate, and those
two strikes were the United States
and Russia. With these two great pow
ers outside the league, the operation of
sanctions was always to be difficult
matter; the fact that other nations
later withdrew from the league only
served to make matters worse.
The kellogg pact, which was more
fortunate in that it gained universal
acceptance, was a cripple because it
provided no real means Of enforcing
Ats provisions.
Peace of Status Quo"
1t was not long before it became
apparent that the league, devised and
formed as it was by the victorious ma
lions, was an instrument for main
tanning peace strictly in the sense that
it was intended to maintain the status
quo at the end of the war.
For about ten years this was more
or less satisfactory, principally be-
cause the nations were physically and
financially exhausted by the war. But
by 1881 it became apparent that all
of the nations were not satisfied with
the status quo, especially those ma
tons whose population was ever-ex-
panding and for whose Industrial prod
ucts it was becoming more and more
necessary to find new market
Since that time there have been
four outstanding incidents which have
indicated that, to be successful, the
league needs some sort of bolstering
I'D, some power of maintaining peace
other than merely the status quo of
1919, and further means of enforcing
its decisions.
The first of these was the invasion
of Manchuria by the japanese, which
violated everything from the Washing
ton treaties and the Kellogg pact to
the league covenant and Roberts Rules
of Order. In the midst of the World
war of words which ensued, Japan
quit the league.
The second instance was the ChacO
war, and its long-drawn-out hOstilities
between Bolivia and Paraguay. The
third was the failure of the disarma-
ment conference which resulted in
Germany's withdrawal from the league
because she felt she was not getting
her promised equality. The fourth is
the present situation, the invasion of
Ethiopia by Italy.
What to Do About 1t.
Several remedies have been sug-
gested. Some of them are merely de
signed to improve the power of the
league to enforce its covenant and
maintain the status quo. Others aim
at a reorganization which will square
ly face changing conditions and admit
that the status quo leaves much to be
desired.
In the four incidents named 1t has
become apparent that world opinion
does not mean much when it comes