The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-29
CHANGES MADE
IN COVENANT
American Amendment to Pro
tect Nations Against the In
flux of Foreign Labor.
MONROE DOCTRINE IS
MADE SAFE
Another Important Amendment
Affects Article 8, Which Re
fers to the Reduction of Arm
ament

leIS 10 L1lc NeuuCtIoiI VI AlII1-
ament
Paris March 25.-An American
amendment to protect nations against
the influx of foreign labor was
adopted today by the league of ma
tions commission. It affii ms the right
OF any country in the control of mat
ters solely within diplomatic jurisdic-
ton.
Another important amendment to
the league covenant affects article 8,
which empowers the executive council
to formulate a plan for the reduc-
ticr OF armaments. The language Of
the article is altered SO as to limit the
nowers Of the council to a simple rec
;.ys,mendat:on to the governments af-
fected.
President Wilson would have Of
:ered the amendment at the meeting
of the league of nations commission
last night, but discovered a slight
ilnperfection in the text and reserV-
ed the right to submit it later.
The American peace delegation, It
is understood, has definitely agreed
upon the amendment It will offer to
article 10 Of the covenant OF the
league of nations to safeguard the
Monroe Doctrine.
The amendment provides that
agreements under the covenant snail
not be construed as an infringement
upon the principles of international
policies heretofore generally recog-
nized.
AS framed the amendment will be
IN appendix to the article pledslng
members Of the league to respect anc
preserve against external aggression
the territorial integrity and existing
political independence Of members.
Mention of the Monroe Doctrine by
name is avoided purposely.
/ Inasmuch as President Wilson and
! Col. House on several occasions have
discussed the subject with Pren1iers
Lloyd George. Clemenceau and Or
| lando. If is assumed the president as
! slred himself Of favorable action IN
advance Of the submission Of the
amendment to The commission.
.
az last nights meeting and which are
! regarded by the American delegates
OF great Importance were calculated
TO meet suggestions and objections
en,allating from America. They in
c!ude substitute for the phrase
Estates members of the league" in ar
ticle 10 and elsewhere in the cove
nant. thus meeting objections that the
latter term created membership.
Provision also was made for the re-
vision Of the covenant itself from
time to time. thus meeting the objec-
ton tha. it is inf.eXible. The adnals-
sion of other States was provided for.
but it was agreed that any change in
,..umEcrs must be with due regard
70 The proportion between the repre-
sentat;on OF the 'arge and small pow
ers on the executive council as de-
fined in the articles creating the
council.
Many changes in the text Of the
covenant were made with the special
purpose of clarifcation and removing
:.nlbiguities to which attention had
been called by speakers in the United
States Some doubt is entertained in
some quarters as to the wisdom of
amendments affirming absolute con-
troll of countries over their internal
affairs. as possibly prohibiting the
extension of outside aid to put down
revolutions, and it is possible this
language may be further modified.
One amendment to be submitted
adopts q provision that powers
which are not specifically delegated
to the league are reserved to individ-
ual members Nothing has yet been
done to affirmatively state thesright
draval from the league, nor has the
japanese amendment regarding ra-
cial discrimination been reached.
This latter, however, has been modi-
fled so as to simply declare for the
right of just treatment and is likely
to be accepted.
a French amendment providing
for the maintenance Of general
military staff has been proposed but
thus far it has not been accepted.
Article 10 Of the league of nations
draft reads as follows:
The high contracting parties shall
undertake to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritorial integrity and existing politi-
cal independence Of all States mem
bers of the league. In case OF any
such aggression or in case of any
threat Of danger of such aggression
the executive council shall advise
upon the means by which the obliga-