Evening journal., 1919-08-12

- HE feature of the eage covenant thai Is causing
deep concern to the people Of the Atlantic and Pa
cinc Coasts and 90 less degree progress inland is
the proposition TO turn TO the league council and
assembly all jurisdiction questions Of immigration.
In spite OF the fact that friends OF the
pre It's language complete reservation 70 this country
OF all domestic questions, including that OF immigration
is Just clearly tho opinion OF the league opponents
that adoption OF the covenant involves the unequivoca
surrender part Of oontro all such matters
League advocates point TO Article i5 Of the
which reads follows;
III the dispute between the parties is claimed by one
OF Them and is found by the council to arise out OF
matter which by international law Is solely within the
domestic jurisdiction OF that party the council shall
report and shall make recommendation 10 It's settle
ment"
II claimed that immigration has always been recos
nzed in international law domestic matter and The
league council cannot consrue It otherwise therefore,
such questions left 10 individual nations for decision
heretofore.
But the fact remains that the council is clothed by the
covenant with authority decide whether the dispute at
issue is solely within the domestic jurisdiction" Of
Of the claimants
That decision now rests entirely with the United States
as regards immigration into this country.
Why surrender It at ALL even though may have
present confidence It's determination by others would
accord with own?
Moreover, much depends on the construction ule
council might put upon the word solely" It is seldom
that immigration laws have directly forbidden en-
trance to alien peoples.
More often they contain restrictions like the teracy
test that applied TO all immigrants regardless Of
nationality.
An Interpretation OF such law plausible enough to
minds OF the eight foreign members OF the council
OF nine would be that It did deal "soley" with i'm
migration but undertook 10 maintain certain standards
of education health in America.
From that decision there would be appeal, the
council is the supreme court OF the world
Entirely aside, however, from the Interpretation OF
Article 49, about which most OF the immigration
controversy has ragged let turn to Article
n OF the covenant There find that "any cir I
cumsance whatever affecting International relations
which threatens TO disturb either the peace the good
unders anding between nations may be brought to the
attention the council whereupon, "the league shall
lake any action that be deemed wise and efeclual
10 safeguard the peace Of nations
Does anybody deny That situations arising out Of the
enforcement of our immigration laws might carry
threat Of WARP
Ask the people along the Pacific Coast what their ex
perlence has been with the japanese.
They will tell you that only by Tho most adro dplo-
nao management has the feeling between The United
states and Japan prevented from developing into
open rupture.
Had the league been in existence The council at the
nssence Japan, would long since have taken control
OF Oriental immigration into this country, and in all
every restriction have put upon it would
have been removed by imperative orders from league
headquarters
Tho result would have been constant and ever
Increasing succession Of riots eliminating in open
war with Japan and The rest OF the world represented in
The league Is that situation that any American in
,ites with complaisance?