The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-03-27
argued for complete acceptance Of the
document without change"

. WI SOA8ARACtC acceptance VI =.
document without change"
Nor has the President since thai
time-which was the only occasion sc
far as known upon which he discussed
the details of the Covenant with any
one onthis side of the Atlantic-admit
ted that there was need for amend
ment, or evinced any purpose to re-
cede from the position he took in the
White House conference.
Senator Lodge and President Lowell
were In entire agreement on the fact
that the Covenant needs thorough re-
vision; they differed on the manner
and character thereof. The Senator'S
amendments would go to fundament-
ais, while his opponent would seek in
most instances merely to clarity the
language.
Mr. Lodge. in refutation OF the
charge that his criticisms have been
destructive rather than constructive.
offered six suggestions as to the
amendment OF the Covenant:
"First-Let It's language and form
be revised SO as to remove all doubt
OF its meaning.
"Second--Let 1t be definitely stated
whether the Executive Council acts by
unanimous or majority vote.
"Third-Let there be a larger ard
more explicit reservation of the Mon
roe Doctrine.
"Fourth--Let domestic questions
with an international aspect, such as
the tariff and the character of immi-
grafton, be excluded from the Lcag-
ue's domain.
"Fffth-Let 1t be definitely stated
how and when the obligations of the
Covenant may be terminated.
"Sixth-Let the acceptance of the
leagues mandate be made optional
with the proposed mandatory"
And as his seventh and most i'm
portant point, Senator Lodge called
attention to the implications of Article
X Of the Covenant. which pledges
every member to guarantee the poll
tical independence and territorial in
against external aggression Of
every member OF the L~eague-that is
to say, ultimately of every nation of
the earth. America asks no guaran-
ties, having no endangered frontiers,
but she is asked to guarantee the
Of practically the whole
AS Senator Lodge says, that
is q tremendous promise to make. If
the Covenant had existed in the Eigh-
teenth Century. France could not have
us win the Revolution, just as
In 1898 we could not have rescued
President Lowell made a well con-
sidered and forceful defense Of the
Covenant as he understands 1t. and
as he would have it amended t. read.
The very frankncss Of his admissions
as to its defects tended to disarm
criticism. In his one departure from
his set address he stated the differ
ence between his attitude and that of
Senator Lodge thus:
IL feel that when those defects have
been removed TIC Covenant ought to
De ratihed--and he does not tell us
whether he thinks so or not"
To this Senator Lodges sufficient
rejoinder was:
III they want 10 know In Paris what
amendments we require, call together
the constitutional advisers Of the
President, and the amendments will
be drafted and sent II they are
adopted. the Treaty will be ratified in
short order" &
The debate has served a very useful
purpose in clearing the air Of mis-
conceptions. Other such debates
should be held, and will be. For n
thing IL certain--thc American people
ought never 80 blindfold into an agree
ment Of such crucial Importance to
their w future.