The “League of Nations” Idea — is it Modern?

A correspondent has raised questions with reference to our recent leader and leaderettes on the subject of the proposed League of Nations. As the questions are important, as they may have occurred to many besides our correspondent, it is as well to say a few words in regard to them if only by way of further explaining our position in the matter. Our correspondent says that he does not follow us when we say that the idea of a League of Nations us undeniably “a distinctively modern idea,” though we admit that “it has been in the air for a long time.” We do not see the incompatibility. What is called a modern idea is not necessarily an idea that came into existence only yesterday; it may have been in the air for a long time and yet be modern in the strictest sense of that term.