Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1919 — BRITISH LEAGUE PLAN OUTLINEO [ARTICLE]

BRITISH LEAGUE PLAN OUTLINEO

Lord Robert Cecil Submits Draft of View to the Peace Congress. ■ ■■ ■; '"iwi PUBLIC OPINION IS POWER Declares Tribunal With Absolutely Binding Powers Is Not Practica-ble-Main Object Is Delay td Give Opportunity for Discussion* London, Jan. 24.—Lord Robert Cecil, according to a Renter’s dispatch from the French capital, at Paris that he had submitted to that peace congress a draft of the British, view oh the subject of the league ofi nations. He behoves the world has' not yet .reached a stage at which an| absolutely rigid system fdr the pres-i ervatlon of International pence can bet set up. In discussing his idea of the! form the league should take, Lord Cecil Robert says he thinks an interna-j ttonal tribunal with absolutely binding powers Is not practicable at present. "The creation of a nqnrlgld international machinery by which a council, by exerting influence toward conciliation, may work, will be the main strength of future peacemakers," ha said. "Such a body must, however, possess at least sufficient internationguaranteed power to be able to prevent surprise declarations of war and to compel disputants to accept delay during which forces of civilization may have time to try to avert a calam-i ity. "The Interdependence of modern! states has become so great that no na- 1 tion can control its own affairs en* tirely without regard to the effects ofl Its actions on other nations. It is Important to proceed with the utmost respect for national sovereignty. At present certain international organizations, such as posts and telegraphs, are regulated by international agencies. Before the war we had the Danube commission, the Rhine convention, and even International labor organl-j zntlons. International Control for Cities. "It is easy to se< that tn future cer-| tain cities located on waterways will) have to be under international control,; which will guarantee free access to them. Some of the new states formedl out of the Austro-Hungarian empire,, for example? cannot possibly have In- 1 dependent access to the sea- Switzer-; land is,* according to newspaper dis- t patches, considering a plan which wllll give her a way to reach tidewater.; Certain nations have a strong Interest; tn having free access to Salonlkl, but, ft is out of the question for them to plan possession of that port. The most Important example of this kind, of course, is that of the Dardanelles! and the Bosphorus. "These examples of international; agencies, which are necessary, lead naturally to a new organization, the object of which will be the welfare; of the nations of the world. "Delay which can give opportunity! for discussion and conciliation will be the. main source of the league In dealing with disputes in which the vital Interests of great nations are involved. "As In the pence congress the ultimate decision must rest with the great powers since, us a last resort, the league can enforce Its decisions only by the military power which will always be possessed by the great nations.

Public Opinion Governs. * “In general, the powet on which the league must mainly rely will be' pul»Hc opinion,” he continued, “and it la for this reason that the power imposing delay on disputants is so important.” Lord Robert said he favored the establishment of a permanent international council of the league which would sit at a place agreed upon. Above this, he said, there should bo a superior council, consisting 6f premiers or important members of various national governments, which should meet regularly and during the /next fqw years very frequently.