Evening star., 1919-03-15
.D|PL0MATSA ANDBAR
OPPOSE COVENANT
Loosely Drawn and Ambigul-
ties Render Ineffective,
View of Unbiased.
0VERLOOKS 80 U. S. PACTs
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

So far as the National Capital can
be said to be the clearing house Of
opinion senatorial, national or politi-
CAL it is evident that general approval
of proposal to create q league Of ns-
tions, the projection Of particular
kind of league embodied in the
covenant" and a deep-rooted antip-
athy to any league or world alliance
whatsoever mark the three main lines
of comment throughout the country.
OF the thirty-nihe republican SEN
ators who signed round robin pro-
testing against the covenant. the ma
jority declare they must not be mis-
understood as against the principle
Of a league of nations. Thus the pro-
ponents of the league come to the
conclusion that the overwhelming
sentiment of the American people
favors an international concert of
power to prevent war and keep the
peace, but is not especially committed
to the covenant or any other plan
that has so far been suggested.
covenant Loosely Drawn"
i Close study Of the covenant by dip
lomats and international lawyers who
are not concerned with the political
aspects of the controversy brings out
an almost universal opinion that the
covenant is loosely drawn and could
not in its present form be effective
I, 0F 1oy~ Nf hi q
contained in 1t. Amendment is con-
fidently expected, and therefore in
terest attaches to the kind of
changes that may satisfy American
objections.
First The covenant makes no pro-
vision whatsoever for the compost
ton of the executive council in the
event that any members Of it happen
to have a dispute with each other.
While it is true that the action of
the executive council must at all
times be unanimous to be effective.
can a dissent by the United States or
by Japan, II these two countries arc
in controversy with each other, null
lily action by the executive council?
The remedy Is clearly In a specific
provision for the admission to the ex-
ecutive council Of two other countries
who are to be members of the execu-
tive council for the duration of the
dispute, these two new members to
be mutually agreed upon by the dis
putants from lists submitted the one
to the other.
overlooks Thirty q. s. Treaties.
ognize the existence of thirty trea-
ties which the United States has with
thirty nations respectively providing
for a commission of investigation and
a delay in hostilities until the COM
mission has reported.
The covenant permits tho investiga-
ton to be conducted only by the eX-
ecutive council. thus eliminating the
special machinery already in existence
for the purpose az between tho United
States and other nations, In a later
article tho covenant recognises that
special machinery may exist for arbi-
tration and 1t would be comparatively
simple to insert three or four words
In article twelve enabling any of the
nations to use for Investigation pur-
poses commissions they may mutually
agree upon. but With tho obligation to
report tho findings to tho executive
council
No Provision for Peaceful Cessions.
Third. Thcre. is no provision in the
covenant for the peaceful ceasion or
territory which ia fundamental to the
needs of many countries for iegiti-
mate expansion, Nor ia there any ar
rangement for tho satisfaction OF the
olainns of tho minority at individuals
who may feel impelled to emigrate
from coded territory rather than live
under new sovereignty, Provision
for special commission to deal with
minority problems as part of the
general principle of nationality would
tend to meet the objection
Sees Overwhelming Sentiment"
Fourth The overwhelming sentiment
of the American people appears to be
in favor Of retaining freedom Of ac-