Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1919-02-24
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Tho people Of America are IN ia
vor OF some plan which shall commit
the moral forces of mankind to main
tain peace among nations, 10 fruwn
upon war and To- promote justice In
international relationships whether
The constitution ~ the lcnEuc ~ ma
lions VIII do this is hard for The lay
mind 10 understand. II may be that
MI Wilson can explain 10 the salts
faction pf this country that the con
slimt.on which he has helped formu-
late will do sil that ne claims Tor A.
II. however the League aS agreed
upon. means that this country viii
have TO rellngulAh any OF lts cher
American advantages, It will not. we
believe, be accepted by the country
ut large. II would be the extremist
folly to bind this nation to "A league
whose powers and limitations are In
capable OF exact statement IN Ian.
suaHe oyery Intelligent citizen may
understand, and there seems 10 be
"A widely divergent opinion as to
whether the Instrument which prcsl.
dent Wilson comes home to explain
does this, and any explanations on
the side ought, at least. comport With
the text of the constitution Itself II
shouts not be left for this natnon, or
any. other power. TO read into It
something which II does not contain.
for II Il ls TO be differently inter-
preted TO meet the contentious Of any
complaining member rs purpose will
fail.
II should have an explicit state
ment AZ 10 the indisolubillty OF The
league, and we should have a clear
and unmistakable declaration OF the
powers conferred upon the league,
with an express provision that all
bowers not bestowed, directly and
not by Implication. are reserved TO
the several nations.
As We understand the document
Il contains no provision for the with.
drawai OF n nation. or permitting a
withdrawal without fulfilling nc
crued obligations. II does not state
by what means a continued member
ship may be enforced. nor what llmi-
tations there are upon the league as
whole. There are no provisions
for determining whether the league
has exceeded Its Jurisdiction, or what
Ia the duty OF a nation that thinks
the league has demanded of II n scrv.
Ice no, within the vested powers OF
the league.
The spsoiflc powers conferred up
on tho body OF delegates aro vague,
nor does II provide how delegates
Are to DO chosen and what kind OF
credentials will be necessary We
know not what are the specific pow
ers Of the executive council. how the
members are elected. nor what pro-
vision there ID for settling a contro-
versy II two members appear from
the same nation each claiming to be
the authorized represen entatlve,
10 Ia not clear as TO what provision
IL made for raising funds for tho
league, apportioninR the burden. col
lectlng the sands, keeping custody or
for an accounting. The limitations
upon the powers OF the body of dele
gates. the executive council or the
secretariat are pot explicit, and while
u provides that all treaties In conflict
are abrogated, u does not state who
will determine In what respect the
treaties are IN conflict
Another important question Is will
| the league have the power TO regu-
late import duties. and II so, what
provision grants that power7
We have already seen that the CON
stitut.on is subIcct to various con-
siruotlons. aud IL our own people
differ what may bo expected OF the
nation members? Each, OF course.
will attempt TO conutrue Il favorable
, to themselves, and In this respect tho
| leavuo viii fail ~ ifs vary purnoae