Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-17
COVENANT OF PARIS
Is A REAL LEAGUE
Extends Monroe Doctrine to the World and
Secures the Sovereignty Of
the Nations
BY WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT
COPYRIGHT. 1919, by Public Lccocr Co.


on the subject and Is reprinted from TO.
Days Public LcdoerJ
A LII who have pressed for n league of
A nations 10 maintain peace and prevent
war must thank God as they read the pro.
visions of the constitution OF tho league upon
which the nations In conference at Paris
have agreed. President Wilson is 10 be
warmly congra atulated that the league Of
nations which he promised to the harassed
! Allied peoples In his messages and addresses
and has urged before the conference has
taken such form.
1t is a real league. II has clinchins and
cnching provisions. IT imposes on all tho
great powers and all others who enter the
league a solemn covenant not to begin war
until the differences have been submitted
either 70 arbitration and award or 10 the
executive council of the league as a con-
ciating body. Tho parties covenant TO
obey tho award IL the executive council
unanimously recommend a compromise and
IL the party against whom II is mado refuses
to comply with the recommendation the other
party covenants not to go TO war. Then tho
council may take steps TO secure compliance.
II party breaks it's covenant in these
regards and goes 10 war a complete boycott
OF the rccalcitrant la required OF all members
OF the league, The breach OF covenant Is
act Of war against all the other members OF
tho league The executive council is then TO
recommend what military forces each mem
bcr of tho league should furnish to protect
tho covenants of the league. The members
arc to share the loss arising to any member
OF the lSigue by reason OF the boycott The
boycott is to prevent commerce NOT only be-
tween the outlaw nation and its citizens and
the members Of the league and their citizens,
but is to be extended TO prevent commerce
of tho outlaw and its citizens with nonmem-
bers of tho league. 1t is to Je complete
isolation.
1t Will thus be seen that economic pressure
is force that all members OF the league are
bound to use in every case of a breach of
covenant in beginning war. The contribution
70 a military force to suppress war Is not
obligatory, but tho council is TO recommend
what contribution each league member should
make. Moreover each members is required
to give passage over its territory to forces OF
the league engaged in attacking the
recalcitrants. 1t would be difficult TO make
stronger provisions that have IL tendency TO
force league members into war with covenant
breakers without creating a distinct and
positive obligation to make war The menu
bers of the league. whether they fight or not.
are not neutrais in the modern sense They
must prevent intercourse of nonmembers Of
the league with the recalcitrant nation. They
must yieid right of way TO league military
forces attacking that nation. The recalci-
trant may therefore properly regard them as
belligerents and enemies Provision Is made
ior tuture creation of an International court
but meantime arbitration before agreed arbI-
traitors is provided
On the whole. the short program Of the
Heasue 10 Entorce Peace, adopted in June
1872 diiiers but little from the nub' of this,
except that military contribution is not ex
pressly obligatory and that In this either
| party 10 difference may avoid a court and
| an award and seek council Of Cancellation
| IN the executive body of the league vbaro
| unanmty of recommendation is required
Inc proposal 10 use compusion to secure
SUBMISSION rather than execution of iudr-
inent or recommendation came from the pro-
! gram OF the League to Enforce Peace and
| was ADOPTED by General SHUTS in a remark
| able brochure submitted by him December g.
1913 II is understood that the President
was much impressed with the paper OF Cen
| eral Smuts and with his plan as well. We
| may be certain the constitution as now
| adopted was largely taken from his recon-
| mendation He argued for the Joint obliga-
| tion OF league members to use force which
! was only partly adopted, as I have pointed
out. He, too, recommended required submis.
| sion OF the justclable questions 10 a court
and OF nonJusticiable questions to con-
citation council as the League to Enforce
! Peace had done, But the Smuts plan was
| much more comprehensive than that Of the
| League to Enforce Peace. From that plan
| came the mandatory system of administrat-
| ing backward countries and internationally
| ing cities as wards OF the league through
| competent and existing governments as
! agents answerable to the league. From that
| plan came the union OF all present interna-
| tional bureaus under the league, as well as
| the permanent secretariat He advocated in
| ternational labor reforms through the league
and this function is 'left TO be developed
| under the league. he, too. brought non.
members of the league under its influence
and action.
The giving Of the great powers five votes
! in an executive council of nine is one of the
| most important features of the constitution
and is indispensable to any practical work
ing OF it. They arc the responsible members
who are to do the work to be done The
minor states of the league enjoy it's pro-
lection, but viii not be willing to eNpend
money or effort in maintaining its authority
They should not be permitted TO arrogate to
themselves equal authority with the great
powers and thus seriously interfere with the
leagues efficient operations. This is a suffl-
cient safeguard against too early admission
OF Germany.
One admirable feature OF the constitution
Is It's elastic character. The President has
commented il. II may be well that as
the concrete problem OF keeplng peace be-
tween the new republics and the old countries
| out OF which they have been carved presents
itself in detail special measures for the rats.
ing Of military forces may have to be in
corporated. Doubtless other readiustments
whl have to be made as experience shows
their necessity In other words. this fact does
not rig'dly maintain the status quo but
makes provision for development and prog
ress among the nations In many instances
too the old and paraiyz'nE requirements Of
unanimous action by the powers have been
departed from.
Now that President Wilson brings back
10 US a real league ard has fully made good
1 bis cad MIR IL would