The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-08-20
PLANNING PEACE

American opinion appears to be
wide, deep and strong for some
kind of world organization after this
war, which can and will preserve the
peace, once it has again been reestab
lished. When Woodrow Wi is o
sought to have the United States
take leading role in his proposed
League of Nations there was divided
sediment here. Many thought it bet
ter to "avoid entangling alliances,
to isolate ourselves from the per
ennial chickering's and quarrels OF the
Old World, to attend strictly to oul
own knitting and live peaceably II
our own back yard. But they learn
ed that that does not work. We are
too much part of the world.
1t may now be confidently expect
ed that an organization will be form
ed after this war to keep the peace
of the world. Practically no party
person or pressure group has so fal
come out squarely against it. Ant
since we are to have it the time tt
plan it is while the war is being
fought, so that it may be put into
operation as soon as the war is over
just as the Amgot was ready to stel
in behind the armies in Sicily.
The big questions already Cane
they will grow bigger day by day.
are: What form will this information
al organization take? What powers
will it have? What nations will par
ticipate and how? How will it func
ton? How much of military OF
police force will it need, how shall
it be made up, and how employed
Shall the Axis powers be given {
voice, or just be told what to do?
The basic framework of the
world federation appears to be prett,
well agreed on. 1t will be repre-
sentative body with enforcing pow
era sort of League of Nations will
authority.
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churchill launched the gen
eral idea with their Atlantic Char
ter, which embraced the PRESIDENT
Four Freedoms, and which took the
high ground of no territorial gains
permanent peace, mutual aid ant
good neighborliness Generalissime
Chang Kai-Shek was ready adher
emit. Premier Stain has not been 81
outspoken, but he made the friendl!
gesture of suppressing the CominterI
(formed to harass other nations)
and he came out in favor of "a strong
and Independent postwar Poland
a relationship which has caused
much uneasiness.
AS to American leaders, there j.
near-unanimity for postwar cooper
alton.
In Congress there has probabl.
been more talk, and more thinking
on the subject than anywhere else
And that is as it should be, because
it was in Congress, or rather in the
Senate, that the League of Nation!
and the Versailles Treaty were re
jected.
A notable contribution to inter
national cooperation, both in edu
cation and action, is the one-mal
campaign of Robert Lee Humber. +;
North Carolina lawyer, who wal
chased out of his Paris residenc,
by the German invasion. Beginning
at home in 1910 he has prevailed
upon no fewer than Is State legis
latures to take more or less favor
able action on his proposed resolu
ton that ''all people of the eartl
should now be united in common
wealth of nations to be known al
the Federation of the World" Work
ing through the legislatures Mr.
Humber hopes to come finally tt
Congress with sort of mandate FOL
action.
It is generally felt that we arr
now paying for losing the peace
after the last war and that we should
take different course this time
But beyond the broad general prin
ciple of international cooperation
there are bound to arise problems
which will appear all but insuper
able. For instance, will America con
sent to representation in the Unior
according to population? (China and
India would outnumber us abou
three to one.) Will it agree to al
international military power greater
than its own? Those are some of the
questions that are now being intense
Ii
figure in the elections next year.