The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-13
The League Of Nations
 ''Covenant" Explained By the RIGHT HONORABLE vIsCOUNT BRYCE MP
CHIT HONORABLE VISCOUNT BRYCE M P.

culaton also as stereotyping forever the now existing territorial and political To pect that the settlement expected by the Confer en'e at the end of this be final settle lheht-i e.. which would preclude internal Ii ontents arising within the States uaileS are now to be fixed, from going so far as 10 break up those States, so affect the present territorial arrangements. should also prevent 1liS states from ever hereafter stepping terVehe for the settlement troubles thus arising even where there may a strong case for inter EeIlI0n-to expect so much as this would be in duIge an optimism enterely unwarranted by study Of the changes which events inevitably brought aout III the territorial settlements that made as in 164S, in 1915, in 1878. after previous wars and congresses One may suppose that the +t iileIS ol the covenant scheme would reply that the general terms they have In article (Ar- ucIe ID which authorizes the League steps o eIl PoSSlole olsturbances of international peace might be so stretched cases of this kind tSee also Article 24) Perhaps much as can be done to difficulty indicated: but the difficulty may a
 There is force in the observation made in some quarters that the Covenant assigns auth orlty to the Executive Counctl-that is to say to the five Great Powers which will form the major ny Tn the council and which, bearing by far the heaviest responsibilities. destined to dom mate it's action It is the Executive Council which VIII VIII create ana work the General Secretariat The council overshadows altogether the Body of Delegates in which the smaller States have to Iiilu tIIei opportunities for acton only four of these States being allowed to have seats on the council at any time. is desirable that the sillI4er Staes' though the burden of executive tton upon them will be comparatively light should have confidence in the policy action of the league and should feel themselves safe under its protection, it would wise 70 accord to them d 4uIIeF recognition Tor the exercise of influence It fs on the other hand, be remembered that there States in Europe (and may presently be others) well in tropical America, from whose delegates much wisdom or sense of responsibility such by the Great Powers be expected. It might therefore be risky to entrust, at the outset wide powers to body in which all States will be equally represent- cd Fourteen fifteen tropical American States plus seven eight of the less responsible Euro and Asiatc States might conceivabIy out States We do yet know how many new small States will emerge Europe and Western Asia
 The opposing considerations I have here men tioned may be reconcled, but space fails me to in dicate here the method in which may be done
 The distinction between justiciabe disputes- e., those that be settled by application of legal and judicial methods-and other disputes not susceptible of such definitely legal treatment is recognized in the Covenant, it been in nearly all the plans that have proceeded from those W England America have heretofore writ ficienty emphasized; may doubt whether all justiciable disputes ought a O course be referred to Arbitral Court tional Justce-a court which the Covenant itself ought decide whether given dispute or was .justiciabe. As all on-justicable putes, would be better them, not to the council but to non-judicial rather small body especially apart for the purposes O inquiry amicable adjustment, which might Council of Consolidation. Two members of suca council ought to be specially chosen for pacty of dealing with questions require familiarity with history diplomacy. internal kind of knowledge which very few persons possess and which hardly be expected from all the members of Executive Council The task of in ouiry and conciliation may better separated from executive functions
 eTo be Continued)