704 T. C. CHAMBERLIN 
statesmanship that are now imminent. Without essential addition 
or modification, the “associated nations” constitute a league 
supremely fitted to bring to a close the present issue, to guide in 
reorganization, and to hand the conduct of world-affairs over to 
new organizations born of the new peace conditions and fitted by 
such birth to insure a great era of peace in the future. In its mili- 
tary and material power, in its collective intellectual prowess, in 
its indomitable purpose, and in its moral fitness, this war-born 
association of nations cannot be greatly strengthened by any 
accessions now available, while it might be much hampered by 
such accessions. It could scarcely be strengthened by the addition 
of peoples who have been idle bystanders or equivocal onlookers | 
during the great conflict. It could scarcely be strengthened by the 
addition of the little neutral powers, so unfortunately located on 
the borders of the aggressive empires that they have been forced, 
willingly or unwillingly, to be the avenues of supply for the aggres- 
sive forces. It could gain little power or fitness for its function by 
additions from the Russian empire, once a co-ally, whose dissolu- 
tion has given rise to half-formed republics on the one side, and on 
the other to an autocratic oligarchy more deplorable than the 
autocracy from whichit sprang. The war-born league of associated 
nations, in the form in which the stress of war brought it into being, 
is itself the most fitting league to guide and control the great inter- 
ests of mankind until it shall have achieved the more complete 
triumph that remains to be won through a wise settlement. For 
the immediate future, therefore, it is in the highest interests of 
mankind that events should take shape under the leadings of the 
league that has brought us to this first stage of triumph. 
The punitive war function versus the requisite impartial peace 
function.—Supremely fitted as the war-born league is for the settle- 
ment of the immediate issues of the war, it is not altogether well 
suited to be the immediate instrument in building up a spirit of 
peace. The war issue cannot be settled either in justice or in wis- 
dom without due punishment for the unlawful deeds of the war. 
The security of the future demands that the guilty be adequately 
punished. The war-born league cannot therefore divest itself of 
the memories of the war or of the punitive measures that must 
