Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-23
PROPOSES WORLD "
UNION. FOR PEACE
Creation of League Broached
by Erzberger, Clerical Men,
ber of the Reichstag.
WOULD PRESERVE RIGHTS

draft of a constitution for league of
nations. worked out in detail by
Matthias Erzberger, clerical member
of the German reichstag, is published
in the vossische Zeitung Of Berlin.
1t is taken from book entitled. 'The
League of Nations; the Way to
Peace" which Erzberger soon will
publish. The first section of this con-
stitution, dealing with the organiza-
tion of such a league, says: ANY SOW
eign state can enter the league.
which shall be considered to have
been formed when the following pow
ers are among those who have an
nounced adherence: Germany, Great
Britain. France, United States and
Russia
The Hague would be the seat of the
league. and there the international
bureau would conduct it's business.
Each state. with the approval of its
parliament, would appoint one dele
gate. The international bureau would
be controlled by permanent admin
iStrative council. consisting OF the
representatives of the federated pow
ers with the Dutch foreign minister
as chairman.
Dealing with fundamental laws. the
second section says:
The league shall guarantee the ter,
ritorial possessions of each federated
state as well as undisturbed possess
sion of colonies"
Each state would be Independent in
the conduct of its internal and foreign
affairs within the limits of the
leagues constitution.
League Would Protect Members.
States whose governments with the
assent of their. parliaments declare
their permanent naturalization would
league as permanently neutral and
would enjoy the leagues protection.
All available means would be used
against any federal state outside of
the league which attacks a federal
state or takes up arms without having
applied to the arbitration court or
awaited its judgment, or which takes
arms instead of accepting its judg-
ment.
Members of the league would mu-
tually undertake to cut down and
steadily reduce their land. naval and
aerial forces according to fixed
standard to be agreed upon. They
would further undertake NOT to use
the maintenance of internal order, de-
fense of their territory against attack
and for execution of = the leasue's
mandates. - ~ /.
Figures showing the annual expen-
diture for armament, the number of
troops under arms, war materials in.
hand and the number of warships in
commission would be communicated
annually to The Hague bureau. which
would publish them. The constitution.
provides for economic equality and
for the principle of the open door, all
members of the league granting each
other most favored nation treatment.
Pool Surplus Raw Materials.
For the first decade after the foun-
dation Of the league each states sur
plus of raw materials would be di-
vided between the other federal
states. according to the standard to
be agreed upon. This would be ire
spective of the imports of the year.
the output and the special needs OF
individual states due to the war,
Members of the league would recog-
niZe freedom of the seas. Straits,
canals and connecting seas both banks
same federal state would be interna-
tionalized and their Notifications re-
tanned, guarded by a command con-
sisting of contingents from all the
federated states and commanded in
rotation every three years by a dele
gate Of the states.
Safety of private property on the
high seas would be proclaimed and
the naval prize law and blockade
law abolished.
Exercise of the right Of blockade
would be reserved to the league, and
only to the league for use against any
federal state which violates the
leagues constitution and against any
state not belonging to the league
which takes up arms against the neu-
tralized state. Ships of The fedora
ton states and their cargo would be
treated in each state like its own.
Overseas cables would be controlled
by a commission of the league
Would Ban Colonial Troops.
Members of the league would re-
nounce the raising of troops in Co
lonial territories. All states with col
onies situated in Africa would be
perpetually neutral states.
The third section dealing with the
leagues executive department pro-
vides that in event of offenses. MEM
bers will proceed against the vio1ator
of the constitution. first by severance
plete isolation of the offender by clos
ing frontiers to imports, exports, pos
tai and railroad traffic, and third, in
given circumstances by blockade. The
same measures would be taken against
any hostile menace of a federated
state from non-member.. Should
the offending state cross it's frontiers
with hostile intent against one or
more members of the league joint mil
itary and marine assistance would be
given.
Erzberger invites criticisms Of his