If the society of nations had existed in 1914 and if Germany
had violated its laws, the entire world would have taken
military action against Germany by means of war, economic
action by means of blockade and of depriving her of the
necessities of life. The entire world would have been at war
with her and her allies. And in order that the league of
nations might continue to exist, in order that the rule of
justice, scarcely outlined, could have continued to exist,
the victory of the entente powers would have been as
necessary as it is today. Mr. Lloyd-George and President
Wilson would have said, as they say today, "No league of
nations without victory."
The difference is that in 1914 a verdict in the case would
have been handed down by the common tribunal of the nations,
and that there would have been no possible discussion of the
violations of right committed by Germany nor on the
responsibility for having caused the war.
The difference would have been that in place of seeing the
neutral nations hesitating, frightened by German force,
disturbed by German lies, rallying only under the protection
of one of the Entente armies, at the moment when they had
seen on which side lay right, they would all, at the very
beginning, have entered into the battle in fulfillment of
their obligations not only on account of their moral
responsibility but on account of their clearly understood
interests.
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