The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-26

control matters solely within domestic
Jurisdiction. ,
A"nther important amendment to the
league covenant affects Article VIII,
wLAe., empowers the Executive Council
TO formulate a plan for the reduction of
armaments. Tho language Of the article
is altered so as to limit the power of the
council to a simple recommendation to
the governments affected.
President Wilson would have offered
the amendment to Article X at the meet
Ing Of the League OF Nations Commission
last night, but discovered slight I'm
perfection in the text and reserved the
right to submit II later. Article X. reads
as follows: -
THE high contracting parties shali
dertake to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence OF all states members Of
the league. In case OF any such ag-
gress on or In case of any threat of
danger Of such aggression the Execu-
tive Council shall advise upon the
means by which the obligation shall
be fulfilled
As framed. the amendment will be an
appendix to the article pledging members
of the league to respect and preserve
against external aggression to territorial
integrity and existing political indepen-
dence Of membera Mention OF the Mon
roe Doctrine by name is avoided pur-
posely.
Inasmuch as President Wilson and
Col House on several occasions have
discussed the subject with Premiers
Lloyd George, Clemenceau and Orlando
It is assumed that the President assured
himself of favorable action In advance
of the submission Of the amendment to
the commission.
; Membership Phrase Changed.
other changes In the covenant made
at last nights meeting and which are
regarded by the American delegates as
of great Importance were calculated to
meet suggestions and objections emanat-
ing from America They include a SUBJ
stitute for the phrase States Members
of the League" in Article. X and else
where In the covenant, thus meeting OBJ
sections 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 objection that
It Is infexible The admission of other
states was provided for, but 1t was
taSreed that any change In numbers must
be with due regard to the proportion be-
and small powers on the Executive Coun-
ell as defined in the articles creating
the council
Many changes in the text Of the cove
nant were made with the special purpose
OF clarihcation and removing ambigui-
ties to which attention had been called
BY speakers In the United States. Scme
doubt Is entertained In some quarters as
60 the wisdom Of amendments affirming
af ID IL
internal affairs a. possibly prohibiting
the extension of outside aid to put down
revolutions. and II Is possible this Ian
guage may be further modified
i, Japanese Question Waits.
One amendment to be submitted adopts
. provision that powers which are not
specifically delegated to the league are
reserved to individual membera Moth
ing has yet been done to afnrmauveiy
state the right Of q nation With regard
TO its withdrawal from the league. nor
, has the Japanese amendment regarding
racial Determinations been reached
This latter, however, has been modi-
: hed 30 as to simply declare for the right
Of 'Just'' treatment ana Is likely TO be
accepted.
: A French amendment providing for
che maintenance of q general military
has not been accepted.
During n three hour session last night
the commission disposed tentatively OF
the FIRST sixteen sections. agreeing upon
q number Of changes in form which the
members OF the commission believe will
meet more tnan fifty per cent OF the
objections offered by Senator Lodge
/. (Masa) and other } .nerican Senators.
President wilson was In attendance
ar-h NfakNC
, from neutral nations as well as beiIig-
erents were discussed.
: The entire covenant, when amended
and agreed upon by the commission
will be submitted to a drafting commit
tee which will put 1t into more definite
legal form before its submission TO the
Supreme Council.
Omcial Statement.
The following official statement on the
session was issued this morning:
THE twelfth meeting of the League
OF Nations Commission, which was the
second meeting held to consider amend
ments to the draft of the covenant,
took place at the Hotel de Crillon at
$3.50 p. NJ. on Monday. March "a.
Amendments to the articles from TX.
20 XVI. OF the covenant were consid-
ered, 40 that two-thirds Of the draft
have reen examined.
1.-THE next meeting OF the commits
sion has been Professionally fixed for
Wednesday. March &c. at p. NJ"
Virtually all tho commissions and CUB
commissions of the Peace Conference are
waiting for instructions from the SUI
prsme Council In order to close and sub
NIT their reports. II Ia said that ex-
cept for instructions on certain broad
principles which must come from che
Premiers, the reports are ready to be
submitted within q few hours after the
Instructions are received.
The decision of the Supreme Council
Of the Peace Conference to allow moth
ing TO be published regarding its pro-
ceedings but the oficial communique has
aroused the indignation OF the Paris
press. Those newspapers whose habit 1t
Is TO comment upon foreign affairs con-
denim the aetion in strong terms. The
others follow the oommunique with q
few sarcastioe observations Raymond
Recoly. for instance, writes in the
Ftooro: