New-York tribune., 1919-04-28
New Draft of Charter of
World League Answers
Many Objections Made
Here to First Pact
Changes Recognize
Monroe Doctrine
Debate in Open Session
of Upper House To Be
Sought by Members
New York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 27.-The cove
nant of the league of nations, as made
public here by the State Department
tonight and released for publication
in all the capitals Of the Entente ma
tions which will become signatorics to
1t, shows that President Wilson has
yielded to most of the objections which
the original draft of the covenant
aroused and which would have made
Its ratification by the Senate impos-
sible
lhe four great objections which Mr..
Wilson now has met are, in the order
Of their importance:
/. The Monroe Doctrine is spe-
clflcally recognized.
2. American sovereignty in in
ternaI matters such as Japanese I'M
migration is safeguarded.
3. Any nation may withdraw from
the league after two years notice.
provided it has fulfilled all its obh.
cations during its membership.
=. The original draft provided that
majority decision of the council Of
the league should control. The new
draft provides for unanimous deci-
sion according to diplomatic usage.
On the other hand one of the great
est objections urged By diplomats
and constitutional lawyers like former
Secretaries or State Root and Knox
and former Associate Justice Hughes
namely, Article X, which binds mem
bers of the league TO uphold the "terri
torial integrity and the political in
dependence of members of the league
remains unchanged.
Fight in Senate Looms
TINS Is the principal danger to the
ratification of the covenant of the
league by the Senate. Had this article
been omitted or modified there would
be tonight no danger in predicting
the prompt ratification of the cove.
nnns. AS it stands II cannot be dc
med that the opponents of ratifcs-
ton now have firm ground on which
to stand in their fight to prevent the
United States maintaining an army
which may be called upon at any time
to cross the ocean to intervene IN
European Quarrels in which the United
States has no individual concern.
A strong effort will be made TO have
the covenant discussed in open ses
sion when it is sent to the Senate by
President Wilson for ratification.
Senator Lodge, who viii be chairman
Of the Foreign Relations Committee
III the next Congress. has announced
MS purpose to make every effort for
open consideration in the Senate. A
similar position has been taken b.
other Senator'S, including Senator
Borah Of Idaho, who, in a statement TO-
night, admitted that while The changes
effected in the covenant made !. lee.
Objectionable, he still saw in Article
10 ample reason for continuing his or
position to it's acceptance by the Senate.
Language Completely Revised
The new draft Of the league as made
public to-day shove a complete re
vision of the language Of the original
text.
Critics Of the original text have
always argued that it was clumsilv and
inaccuratcly written. The docum.r,
has evidently been revised to meet this
criticism. but it will not be possible
ocfore tomorrow to ascertain wbcthcr
the changes satisfy the critic. a,
style.
The new draft replaces the .xoo,,
tive council and body of delegates with
council and an assembly. II dos
not require unanimous vote of ,be
assembly to settle a dispute between
members referred to that BODY hv ~
council, but only majority ne ~.
members Of the assembly, omittine tho
representatives Of the nations invo,vca
in the dispute.
new paragraph OF Article Ky j.
held to apply as positive bar TO anv
attempt Of a nation, japan. for IN
stance, 10 raise dispute reparainc
immigration and the rights of immi-
grants. This paragraph reads: III
the dispute between the parties -
claimed by one of them and is found
by the council to arise out Of mattsr
which by international law is solo,r
within the jurisdiction OF tbat ror,,'
the council shall SO report and sba,,
make no recommendation as to it's se,.
tlement."
Armament Provisions Positive
The provisions of Article VIII
garding armaments are briefer than !,
the nrs' draft The provisions in re.
gard TO information as to armamer,.
are made positive instead Of nera,,,,
Instead of undertaking not To concsol
the condition of their industr,ea ..