CROCKER DISCUSSES WHAT IS TO BE DONE TO LEAGUE NOW

In this state of tangled events relative to the fate of the peace treaty and the entry of the United States into the League of Nations, the opinion of Mr. Courtney Crocker, an eminent member of the Boston Bar, as expressed in an interview yesterday, is of interest in clearing the matter up.

"Since the treaty and the Covenant for the League of Nations has been repudiated by the Senate, it is returned to President Wilson, and, as he is chief mover of the document, it is inconceivable that he will not resubmit it to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, in whose hands the fate of the treaty really lies in the course of the next few months. However, before Wilson resubmits the pact, it is only logical that he announce a policy of compromise liberal enough to assure the measure some chance of success. But once in the hands of the committee, there is little likelihood that the treaty will come before the Senate until in its stay in the committee a form has been reached upon which both sides can come to an agreement. Again, when moulded into such a form, very probably in the Senate it will be put upon the calendar and voted upon in the course of time, much as an ordinary measure.

Must Compromise on Article X.

"The principal change of the many which will be necessary in order to carry the treaty once more before the Senate is a compromise relative to the fight over Article X of the Covenant. As stated therein, the United States, together with the other countries of the League, assume an obligation to maintain the territorial integrity of any country in the League. But action by the United States toward this end is in every case left to a decision of Congress as to what form our action shall take. Now, the stand taken by Senator Lodge on this matter is that, if the United States assumes such an obligation, she must uphold it in every case to the full, with power enough to finish the job regardless of the actions of the other members of the League.

"Obviously this stand tends toward an extreme. The difference between Article X and Senator Lodge's interpretation, though subtle, is very potent. The following example well illustrates it: Three boys are oppressed by a bully, so they league together to jump on him should he attack any one of them. There is a great sense of security and power in such a compact. But, now, if the largest of the three withdraws from the agreement, saying, 'All right, boys, when the bully attacks you, jump on him. I will then decide whether I shall help you or not,' both the advantages of the league are lost.

"'The heart of the treaty,' says President Wilson, 'is the agreement of all the countries to stand together in upholding the territorial integrity of the fellow-members of the League.' Now, if the United States, one of the members, perhaps the greatest, decides to remain out of the compact, one of the principal features of the League, that of unified and overwhelming power, is shattered."

"Why did not the Senators come to some compromise before the session of Congress closed?" was the next question put to Mr. Crocker. "It is my belief," he continued, "that the two opposing arrays of Senators were bound to fight the matter out to some extent, but only to such detail that it would be possible to make some compromise. However, they proceeded further and further until steps toward compromise were impossible in the tangle in which they had enmeshed themselves. The close of the session was upon them. When Senator Hitchcock had plunged his side into such difficulty that he wished the aid of the President, he found Wilson sick. Thus the vote was taken after action had gone so far that compromise was impracticable, and defeat naturally resulted.

"A Peace to End Peace."

"One day a man told me a little witticism which ran as follows: 'If the world conflict was a war to end war, then this is a peace to end peace.' And such it would almost seem unless the United States joins the League of Nations. Take a survey of the conditions all over the world, especially in Europe. Germany's militarist party is stronger now than even in its palmiest days before the war. The people have determined to resurrect their country with such an energy that it drives them to labor ten to fourteen hours a day. Moreover, the Germany policy is to large degree unchanged. The war has taught her one great lesson to push toward her goal with less boasting and more common-sense. At the same time the fires of anarchy all over the world are bursting into flames and disturbances are rising into chaos.

"Will not our soldiers have died in vain clipping the claws of the German beast if the claws of the beasts sullenly stirring in England, Japan, Italy and innumerable lesser countries are permitted to grow unchecked? And the check is the League of Nations."