I

AM in full sympathy with the idea of the establishment of a League of Nations, and believe that permanent peace can be secured only through the accomplishment of this end. Such a League, however, will have to be formed gradually, to be tested and modified through experience, and to grow into a formal and well-defined organization through a long period of years. If too much is attempted at the beginning, a League of Nations will be a failure, and the idea will be deferred in its fulfilment for many years to come. As I see it, it would be desirable for the Allied Nations, associating with them as many governments as are ready to confer, to agree to a statement of fundamental principles, and to constitute a Court of Arbitral Justice as is recommended in the platform of the World's Court League, and to leave to this court the decision of cases and the formulation of principles for the settlement of international controversies. At the same time, I think some form of commercial union should be established among the nations with a similar plan for the development of rules and principles. If these two agencies for determining international controversies were established, and provision made for a permanent Court of Arbitration, with a special arrangement for the

formation of Commissions of Inquiry when necessary, I believe that most of the difficulties which arise in international affairs could be amicably settled.

The ultimate goal should be an international organization with a definite constitution, and an international legislature formed on a democratic basis with representatives from all of the nations of the League; and finally, a code should be formed in which the fundamental principles of International Law and Diplomacy are definitely and specifically formulated. As the constitution for the League of Nations and the formation of the legislature will take time and careful discussion, it necessary that Courts and Administrative Commissions be established immediately to begin a World Organization while the more definite constitution and political machinery are in the process of formation. The steps as above suggested, might be summarized as follows:

seems

economic and commercial adjust

ments:

War organizations to be continued for economic reconstruction.

For adjustment of tariffs and commercial affairs relating to colonies and undeveloped territories.

3. An International Court for the settlement of disputes, with divisions as follows:

(a) Prize Court ran a n.
(b) Division for Judicial set-

tlement of International
Controversies.

(c) Court of Arbitration for matters deemed not judicial in nature.

(d) An arrangement for Commissions of Inquiry to investigate and report on matters preliminary to the determination of matters by the Divisions of the Court.

4. In order to render the above ef

of Nations and the establishment of a legislature to deal constructively with the issues and problems which arise in connection with judicial determinations and with the development of new situations and difficulties.

If those who favor a League of Nations insist upon a formal constitution at the outset, and a full definition of powers, duties, and responsibilities, there will never be an agreement, and a League of Nations will not be established. The Declaration of London was not adopted by the ' nations, and the International Prize Court was not constituted because of the insistence upon the definition of terms concerning which much controversy prevails. These terms, such as blockade and contraband can only be defined gradually and rendered definite in the settlement of concrete cases. It is very important that too much be not attempted at the beginning and that provisional arrangements be made, subject to modifications and changes as experience may dictate. Judging from the lessons of history and the growth of Courts of Justice along common law lines, it seems that the establishment of commissions and courts with authority to decide cases and to develop rules and principles connected therewith, offers a solution in the determination of international controversies which might serve as a preliminary step to the establishment of a wellorganized World State with the political machinery and the administrative commissions to render such an organization effective.

By Dr. Francis E. Clark, President United Society of Christian Endeavor.

Un

I believe that there is nothing quite so important for all forwardlooking people to unite upon, as the League of Free Nations, which we hope and pray will be established at the coming Peace Conference. less we desire that the world shall still welter in blood every few years, and that militarism shall still continue to be the curse of the ages, there is no alternative to the League of Nations.

Everyone admits that there will be difficulties in the way of its adoption. Reactionaries of all kinds will oppose it, partisan interests will deplore it and put as much sand in the wheels as possible. But I believe there is a great and growing majority of the people of America and, I trust, of all the peoples of the world, who will stand together for this great advance step, which will not only make the world safe for democracy but make it a decent place for decent men to live in.

The four millions of members of the Christian Endeavor societies in our own country and throughout the world, I believe, are united in standing for these high purposes, so far as they understand them, and in thousands of Local Union meetings during the year to come, this will be one of the subjects discussed, as a necessary adjunct to the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The following Resolution was passed by the Trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor and the World's Christian Endeavor Union, December 10, 1918:

"The Trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor and the World's Christian Endeavor Union, representing some four millions of Endeavorers throughout the world, join other Christian bodies in this country and Great Britain in demanding a new order in the world's political life, embodied imationgue of Free Nations.

"Threeed thousand Endeavorers have enlisted in the armies of America and of the Allies. Many of them have laid down their lives that the world may be free from militarism. They have warred against war. That these men may not have died in vain, that others who have given everything but life may not have suffered in vain, we ask that no obstacle be allowed to stand in the way of the consummation of the world's great hope.

"For the sake of the church of the future, for the sake of every righteous cause, for the sake of children yet unborn, for the sake of Christ whose we are and whom we serve, we pray that in this great crisis those who are responsible for the outcome may not fail to make the peace permanent, and bind together the free nations of the world in bonds that selfish nationalism and an aggressive militarism cannot break."

The leaders of the Christian Endeavor movement have it in mind to do all that they properly can to promote the League of Free Nations, by frequent articles in The Christian Endeavor World, which reaches several hundred thousand who belong to this Society, and also by proposing to them a World-Union Committee, whose duties shall be in part as follows:

"The committee will keep the society or union informed regarding wise plans for the promotion of permanent peace and a world brotherhood, especially such plans as those for a League of Free Nations and a World Court.

By John Barrett, Director General of the Pan-American Union.

ATURALLY anyone interested in Pan-American affairs will

NA

be favorable to a League of Nations which will have as its great purpose the preservation of permanent peace throughout the world. The Pan-American Union is, in fact, today, a League of American Nations which has been actually effective in maintaining peace and preventing war throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Since the Governing Board, or International Council of the PanAmerican Union, has met regularly around its oval table in the beautiful Pan-American Building, there has been no war between any two American republics, and undoubtedly the moral influence of this Council has prevented several wars between them. It is now twelve years since the reorganization of the Pan-American Union and the beginning of its great practical work, and it has a record of which it can be proud. It is, perhaps, no exaggeration to say that the Pan-American Union may be the prototype of a world organization. British and French statesmen who have been in the United States since the world war started have remarked

that if there had existed in London or Berlin, in Paris or Vienna, a PanEuropean Union, like the Pan-American Union in Washington, where the highest representative of the European nations regularly gathered every month to consider European affairs, the war would have been averted.

Already there is a sentiment developing in the United States Congress and throughout Central and South America in favor of so strengthening the Pan-American Union that it may become a real League of American Nations to preserve peace among them. It would not interfere with a World League, but would mean that the family of American Nations would settle their own questions and not require the cooperation of the World League unless this American family were in dispute with some country of Europe or Asia. This suggestion may seem impracticable to many, but ever since it was my first privilege to suggest it nearly twenty years ago, I have not yet found a really great Pan-American statesman who was opposed to it. The one necessity is to work out the problem in a way that will be approved by all the American gov

ernments.