As a court can deal only with legal disputes, and as the most dangerous
disputes named above are political and economic rather than legal, it
is clear that the World Court alone will not end war. A town meeting
of the world under some name is as necessary as the court. This fact
is generally recognized and the idea of a League of Nations is nearly
everywhere accepted.
The existing League of Nations I used to oppose on the ground that it
seemed to me to be so tied up with the Versailles Treaty that it was
more likely to cause war than to prevent it. I believe still that its
coercive features are impracticable. I have come to the conviction,
however, that America should now consider joining the League of Nations
with such reservations on Articles X and XVI as will relieve us from
every legal and moral obligation to go to war or to undertake any
coercive economic measures that might lead to war. We should also be
protected by reservation from any possible construction of obligation
under the Versailles Treaty. I may add that my observation is that
the genuine opposition to the League in this country is in reality
opposition to the commitments indicated in these reservations.
Although the League is still in its formative period, it is, I believe,
firmly established. Fifty-five out of 64 eligible nations belong to it.
Turkey and Germany will probably join within twelve months. Then only
Russia, the United States, Mexico and four small nations of those now
eligible will remain outside.
Important decisions are being made by the League. America should have
a part in making all such decisions, because they inevitably affect our
future. The world is now a community, and the welfare of each nation is
closely wrapped up with the decisions of the rest.
The League fortunately was not made a political issue of the recent
presidential campaign. Secretary Hughes for one took pains to say that
he regarded our foreign relations as not an issue. Party politics
should stop at the 3-mile limit. Secretary Hughes was also careful to
say with reference to the League that it was against the “commitments”
of the Covenant that he believed America had declared herself. I
believe that we should join the League of Nations on the conditions
stated and that we should do so during the present Administration. It
is surely becoming increasingly difficult for us to stay outside.