Evening star., 1945-03-09

80 .;n4; f3
1t Is to be hoped Frank R. Kent.
so.
Of course, the larger the terri
tory taken in, the more dangerous
the forecast. Conceding all this, it
still seems safe to assert, with al
most no qualification, that, a few
months from now new League OF
Nations will spring into being and
with overwhelming Senate and
public support, the United States
will take its place as full-fedged
member.
1t is true that 27 years ago, at
the close of the Versailles peace
conference, similar predictions
about the Senate and the country
were made concerning our partici-
patton in the original League. These
turned out to be SO tragically wrong
that it might well deter a cautious
man from venturing fat forecast
this time.
However, the conditions are so
different as to make extreme cau-
ton in this respect seem unneces-
sary. There is, first, the great basic
fact that a Second World War in
comparably more dreadful in every
way than the First World War has
tremendously deepened the desire
and determination of people every
where, and of all classes, that there
never shall be another. 1t is far
clearer than before that civilization
would wholly crumble under third
such conflict.
Sees No Alternative.
While it is true the first League
did not prevent the present war, it
was doomed to futility from the
start by the absence of the two most
potentially powerful nations, of the
world-Russia and ourselves. With
out these two, there was nothing
to rely on save the old balance of
power grouping, which failed this
time, as it had always failed before.
The result has been complete
collapse of all confidence in the
ability of any such arrangements to
discourage aggression and keep the
peace. Inevitably, then, the world
has turned again toward the league
idea, for the simple reason that,
neither before nor since the last
war, has there been advanced any,
where by anybody any other feasi-
BILE, or even plausible, suggestion.
Literally, there is no alternative.
Either there must again be or
ganized a new league to which we
adhere, or we must again assume
the narrow nationalistic attitude
which utterly failed to keep us
out of the last war, utterly failed
to keep us out of this war and, al
most indisputably, would fail to
keep us out of the next.
Actually, there Is no choice 1t Is
either a new-and, this time, a far
more effective league or it is an iso-
lationism which has twice proved
almost fatal. Conceivably, this new
league may not work. In detail, it
may not be all we would wish. But
there isn't anything else with the
slightest hope of success. 1t is this
or nothing.
Under such circumstances, it Is
incredible that we should hesitate
and there is now every indication
that we will not hesitate. Sentiment
in this country today is far stronger
for postwar cooperation for peace
whether the instrument is called a
League of Nations or, as Mr.. Roose-
velt called it in his recent speech
the international Security Organ
ization," than it was q years ago.
In that day, with a few notable
exceptions, the political and per-
sonal enemies of President Wilson
were violently against the League
Today, the political and personal op-
ponents of President Roosevelt in
many cases are stronger than his
friends for the PRONUNCIATION of the
Dumbarton Oaks principles by the
San Francisco Conference and the
ratification of the agreements al
San Francisco by the Senate.
Feeble Senate Opposition.
With few exceptions, practically
everybody of importance in both
parties is in favor. Nearly every
body Of Importance in the industrial
labor, agricultural and financial
worlds Is also in favor. Both parties
through their acknowledged leaders
committees and conventions, are on
record for it.
The Senate opposition in numbers
and quality is infinitely more feeble
There are no Lodges, Borahs, Reeds,
La Follettes, Norrises, Moseses and
others to combat it. There are few
indeed, to follow Senator Wheeler.
Considering these things, it seems
safe to prophesy that we are going
into league - this time - real
league with real power and full
membership. 1t seems safe to pre-
dict that this time there will be no
reputation of the American Presi-
dent by a small Senate minority. IT
seems safe to say that this time we
are going to live up to our commit
ments. This is the real thing-and
we are going in. In the interests of
clarity. however, this should be said
the new league will not make the
peace terms. Those will be made by
Britain, Russia and ourselves. The
settlement with Germany will be
made, as it should be, by the ma
tions which defeated Germany, IN