members of the League became
so powerful that they could disregard the combined power of the other
members. Every scheme of this movement must therefore see to it that no
member of the League is more armed than is necessary considering the
extent of its territory and other factors concerned. But be that as it
may, an International Army and Navy is practically impossible, just as a
Federal World State is impossible.

XIII. Yet while a Federal World State is impossible, a League of Nations
is not, provided such league gives itself a constitution, not of a
state-like character, but one _sui generis_. What can be done is this:
the hitherto unorganised Family of Nations can organise itself on simple
lines so as to secure, on the one hand, the absolute independence of
every State, and, on the other hand, the peaceful co-existence of all
the States.

It is possible, in my opinion, to establish an International Court of
Justice before which the several States engage to appear in case a
conflict arises between two or more of them which can be judicially
settled, that is, can be settled by a rule of law. There is as little
reason why two or more States should go to war on account of a conflict
which can be settled upon the basis of law, as there is for two private
individuals to resort to arms in case of a dispute between them which
can be decided by a Court of Law.

Again, although there will frequently arise between States conflicts of
a political character which cannot be settled on the basis of a rule of
law, there is no reason why, when the States in conflict cannot settle
them by diplomatic negotiation, they should resort to arms, before
bringing the conflict before some Council of Conciliation and giving the
latter an opportunity of investigating the matter and proposing a fair
compromise.

Under modern conditions of civilisation the whole world suffers in case
war breaks out between even only two States, and for this reason it is
advisable that the rest of the world should unite and oppose such State
as would resort to arms without having submitted its case to an
International Court of Justice or an International Council of
Conciliation.

XIV. In my opinion the aims of a League of Nations should therefore be
three:

The first aim should be to prevent the outbreak of war altogether on
account of so-called judicial disputes, that is disputes which can be
settled on the basis of a rule of law. For this reason the Le