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equality of nations should become the basis of any practical plan for international union or co-operation.

The first result of the adoption of the principle of the equality of nations would be to make impossible an undertaking to employ force or coercion by the international organization devoted to prevention of appeals to force.

A second result would be the disappearance of all the active executive powers of the League as now constituted and the conversion of the legislative powers, if they can be called legislative, into authority to collect information and declare international opinion as to conditions which affect the common interests of the nations.

A third result would be to make needless an oligarchy of the Principal Powers or a body dominated by them, since the only justification for their superior rights in the League is their joint possession of force sufficient to enforce those terms of peace with which the League is charged in the Treaties. With moral obligation to keep faith the only compulsive element recognized, for there is none other in the relations between nations except physical might or the threat to exercise it, the reason for considering the possession of physical might as a qualification for a superior voice in international affairs disappears.

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SSUMING, then, that the Covenant could be amended in conformity with these views so that the League of Nations would possess only a single representative body which has no executive, legislative, or judicial functions, the scope and purpose of the League, so reconstituted, would be, stated briefly, as follows:

1. Exchange of information and opinions on subjects of international interest and concern, particularly on all controversies and differences which may develop into war or which threaten a rupture of good relations; and also provision for giving publicity to such information and opinions.

2. Free discussion and counsel as to ways and means of removing causes of war and of preventing international differences from becoming acute.

3. Recommendations as to bases of conciliation and of adjustment of differences; as to improvements in the constitution and procedure of international tribunals, to which nations may resort for the judicial settlement of disputes; and also as to means for the codification and declaration of the principles and rules of international law.

Confined to the foregoing purposes, which cover an enormous and most useful field, the functions of the organization would require the following agencies:

An Assembly of Delegates representing the nations which are members of the organization. The Assembly should meet periodically to discuss openly and freely the matters coming within its scope and purposes and after common counsel to express formally the opinions and recommendations of the Delegates.

An Advisory Committee, designated by the Assembly of Delegates, as the guiding agent of the Assembly in the carrying out of its purposes, subject always to the will of the Delegates.

A Bureau or Office of Information and Publicity to receive and disseminate information concerning all international matters of general interest, including therein the reception and publication of treaties, international agreements, and other data which in the interest of peace and good understanding should be subjected to the public opinion of the world. This Bureau or Office should be established, maintained, and directed by the Assembly of Delegates.

In addition to this union of nations, but entirely independent of it, a tribunal or tribunals of international justice would of course be maintained as one of the chief agencies for the removal of causes of war.

It is evident that an international organization, constituted in the manner stated and having the scope and purposes set forth, would furnish a permanent world forum for the general exchange of views concerning international affairs and of subjects of mutual interest to the nations, a channel of publicity in regard to political, economic, and social matters through which opportunity would be given for the expression of an intelligent public opinion in all countries, and an agency for the encouragement of the peaceful settlement of international controversies, which would operate in conjunction with diplomacy and judicial procedure.

Though such an organization would be without any physical power to impose its will upon the nations, it would seem to offer the most practical and effective means under present conditions to prevent or hinder international wars and to preserve good relations between nations by free discussion of dif ferences and by furnishing the public opinion of the world with opportunity to exert its influence in behalf of peace.

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AVING considered the subject from the standpoint of what is desirable rather than from the standpoint of what is possible, it is necessary, as a practical matter, to introduce into the problem the factors of the present status of the Treaties and also of the status of the League of Nations.

I think that it may be assumed that, so far as the actual terms of peace are concerned, the other signatories of the Treaties will not place insurmountable obstacles in the way of amending the terms in accordance with American ideas. If they should take such an attitude, the same result may be obtained through the medium of reservations in the ratifying resolution. The change in the Treaties which is essential to the suggested policy, and which could only be made by mutual agreement, relates to the agency for the enforcement of the terms.

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The proposition is to transfer to the Principal Powers represented on the

Supreme Council, or, in certain cases, to international commissions named by them, such duties and powers of enforcement of the terms of peace as are now confided to the League of Nations. As the enforcement of many of the terms is already delegated to the group of Principal Powers, such a transfer ought not to cause serious objection. The League of Nations would thus cease to be an agency for treaty enforcement, and would possess no coercive authority.

In regard to the changes in the Covenant of the League of Nations which would necessarily result from eliminating all power of coercion, the structure of the organization might be preserved by retaining, for the present at least, the Council, as now constituted, to act as the suggested "Advisory Committee," and confiding to the Secretariat of the League the duties of the "Bureau of Information and Publicity."

While retention of the Council with its recognized primacy of the Principal Powers would evidently be contrary to the principle of the equality of nations, the fact that it would be subordinate to the "Assembly of Delegates" and without power to act even in a directory capacity unless authorized by the Assembly would remove a valid objection to its retention. While in theory it would be contrary to the basic principle of equality, in practice it would not affect the principle.

The adoption of this compromise between the desirable form. and the existing form of organization would seem to offer a possible basis for agreement. If later it seemed wise to bring the Covenant theoretically as well as practically into complete accord with the fundamental principles that have been stated and to remove the apparent contradiction of those principles by retention of the present form, the Covenant could be amended.

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HESE Suggestions and comments as to a possible policy are made with a full realization that they will not meet the approval of those Americans who are radically opposed to this country's becoming a member of any general in'ternational association. But to decline to enter such an association would be, in my opinion, to act in defiance of the will of the people of the United States and in opposition to the common desire of mankind which is demanding some union of the nations which will be devoted to the preservation of peace in the world. A possible, as well as a proper, international organization is what should be sought. No policy is worth while that is not founded on practicability. There is no use in suggesting one which does not take into consideration existing conditions, because it will be unworkable and will be as futile as the proposal of one who, in the enthusiasm for an ideal or a theory, ignores facts and circumstances. The formula, stated in general terms, is this: The preferable modified by the possible will give the practicable.

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THE HOME CF THE SCHOOL OF CERAMICS

Alfred University is one of our small colleges such as Webster described when he said of Dartmouth, "It is a small college, and ye there are those who love it." It is in the town of Alfred, New York, about 75 miles southeast of Buffalo. This town was originally settled by Seventh-Day Baptists, whose customs still dominate the place. The University was chartered in 1857. Closely affiliated with it is the New York State School of Clay-Working and Ceramics

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A PUPIL IN THE SCHOOL OF CERAMICS

In the Summer School at Alfred University the classes in ceramics occupy an important place. Enthusiastic devotion to their work characterizes the students, many of whom are teachers taking advanced courses. But the term ceramics has come to include much more than pottery. As developed at Alfred the course in Ceramic Engineering is designed to qualify men to occupy positions as superintendents, scientific experts, and ceramic chemists in the great plants devoted to the making of tiles, bricks, drain-pipes, etc., as well as in pottery works. The courses of study which lead to a degree in this department extend over a period of four years

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THE MASTER POTTER-PROFESSOR CHARLES F. BINNS

Professor Binns, sometime President of the American Ceramic Society, is one of the leading authorities on ceramics in this country. A thorough master of the theory of pottery-making, he is also an expert craftsman, and takes delight in demonstrating to his classes in the School of Ceramics the practical methods of the artist potter. He was born in England and was for many years connected with the Royal Porcelain Works of Worcester. His lectures to his students are notable for thorough grasp of the science, technology, and art associated with clay-working in all its branches

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After the students of the School of Ceramics have learned something of the art of molding pottery or "throwing" it on the potter's wheel, and then covering it with "glaze," their partly finished products are baked in the kiln, which is heated with the natural gas that supplies the town of Alfred with cheap light and fuel

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