The sun., 1919-04-01

puts time limit on the entire sys-
tenn by providing for general con-
ference not less than FIVE years or
more than ten years hence. At that
time or at any time thereafter any
member Of the League, having given
one years notice Of Intention to quilt,
may withdraw itself altogether from
the organization.
But Mr.. Roor's amendments do not
ash the country to wait even FIVE
years before proceeding to disentangle
itself from a permanent engagement
to participate In European politics or
to admit European participation In
the politics Of the western hemi-
sphere. The third amendment he pro-
poses to President WILSON establishes
safeguard in this respect from the
moment Of our entry into the League.
without mentioning the Monroe Doc
trine by name. It reasserts that doc
trine In substantially the same Ian
guage as was employed by the United
States Senate in ratlfying both the
first and the second set Of conven-
tons signed at The Hague.
The reservation Mr.. Roor would at
tach to the Wilson covenant and the
Wilson constitution Is as comprehen-
sive as the heart Of JAMES MONROE
or Of THOMAS JEFFERSON could de-
sire. 1t applies not to n single arti-
Gle but to the entire instrument It
announces that the United States has
no intent or wish to intrude upon or
i Interfere with the political policy or
internal administration Of any for
eign State. 1t gives notice that we
are moved by no existing or antici-
pated dangers In the affairs Of the
American continents to invite Europe
to come in and help regulate. 1t ex-
pressly declares that the convention
Is signed with the understanding that
nothing contained therein shall be
construed to imply REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States OF America Of
It's traditional attitude toward purely
American questions, or to require the
submission of Its policy regarding
such questions (includlng therein the
admission Of immigrants) to the de.
cision or recommendation of. other
Powers"
We invite attention particularly to
the bearing Of this blanket reserva-
ton proposed by Mr.. Roor upon that
specific proposal Of his to which we
have already referred, that another
tribunal than Americas Independent
Judgment shall decide what questions
in dispute are justiciable and accord
ingly to be determined by an interna-
tional court.
We regard 1t, indeed, as a piece of
good fortune for the country that the
extraordinary scheme Of national self
nbnegatlon and world reconstruction
which President WILSON has been
hoping to force through the Senate
on the back Of a treaty Of peace has
not encountered exactly uniform OBJ
jections or exactly identical proposals
Of amendment at the hands Of Its sew.
eral critics. Originating in some
what different points of view and
varying somewhat in the details of
criticism and proposals Of amend
ment, the powerful commentaries of
Senator KNOX. Senator LODGE, Judge
HUGHES and now ex-Secretary RooT
converge in terrific impact upon the
Wilson plan. No violence OF denun-
citation, no blazing fury OF indignant
language. could convey severer IN
dIctment than the simple fact that
these eminent jurists and patriotic
Americans have felt themselves i'm
PEELED to interpose for the protection
Of Americas. future against the per
sonally conceived designs OF an Amer.
lean President.
What form of more violent crti.
cism, for example, could carry a
heavier load of just rebuke than the
temporarily phrased sentences in
which ELIHU Roor points out to
WOODROW WILSON that his duty as
President required him to convene the
Senate Immediately after the fourth
Of March in order that the legislative
body whose constitutional business Il
Is to take the lead in such discussions
should have the opportunity to per.
form It's functions?