Imperial Valley press., 1919-04-17

want the whole world to know what
hey intend, they are naturally will
ing to make their meaning clear.
The Covenant is Only a Draft.
Let US remember that in its pres
ent shape the Covenant is intended
only as a draft, subject to correc-
ion for if it were regarded as fin
shed and interchangeable, it would not
nave been given out until submitted
Cor ratification. 1t is defective as is
he first time we have an experiment
open diplomacy, the public being
admitted to inspect the process be-
eore it is completed. 1t would GER
ainly be unfortunate for that ex-
pertinent if criticism of the draft
we're purely destructive; and yet we
lave had little criticism of con-
tructive character. From those,
nd they are many, who process to
believe in League of Nations, but
lot in this particular plan, we have
heard little or nothing of the way
his plan could be improved to meet
heir views. Criticism seems to have
)een left almost wholly to- those who
object to a League of Nations al
logether.
/ agree fully with Senator Lodge
hat if YOU see a burglar entering
your house YOU shoot him, but YOU
shoot him not for the purpose of i'm
proving the burglar-it is because
YOU do not wish to improve the burg
ar. OF course, if YOU look on this
reaty as burolar, shoot it; but,
for goodness sake say YOU are try
nC to shoot it and not that you are
rving to improve it by destructive
criticism.
When the Intent Is Clear the C0ven-
ant Means What it Says.
Having observed that the drafting
IF the Covenant is defective, | am
not further concerned here with
pointing out errors or suggesting i'm
orovements in drafting, but with the
substance of the plan-with the
character Of the League which the
representatives of fourteen nations
agreed upon unanimously. But |
should like to suggest one amend
nent that would not change in the
least the meaning of the Covenant
where it's wording is precise. but
would greatly clarity further discus
sion, and remove many objections
raised by senator's. It would consist
If an additional article reading as
follows:
"The obligations assumed by the
members of the League are only
hose which agree to assume by the
Covenant, and not others which they
DO not hereby agree to assume. Fur
thermore, the powers possessed by
he organs of the League are those.
and only those, conferred upon them
oy this Covenant"
Or the same thing might be ex-
pressed more briefly thus: "Where its
intent is clear, this Covenant means
what it says, and not something
else"
In spite of all its defects in draft
ng such a clause would heln some
Of our opponents to construe the
document In my argument | shall
assume that this clause has been
added to the Covenant, or is unneces-
sary For example, when the Cove
1ant saws that the Executive Coun-
I'll of the League shall "advise" or
recommend" or determine for the
consideration and action of TIE sew
eral governments" or ''formulate
plans" or propose measures | as
sumo that it means what 1t says. TIC
advise or recommend means to su@-
oest. to propose. TO advocate-ir
short, to recommend-ior considera
lion bv someone else. not to Give an
order to someone who is obliged to
obey; and when the members of the
League agree that their Executive
Council may advise or recommend a
curse of action, they agree to con-
slider that recommendation. but they
assume no obligation, legal or moral
70 follow it if they do not approve
Of it. Much of the misunderstood
= of the plan prepared in Paris
has come from a failure to keep this
fact in mind-and yet it would seem
fairly obvious.
Obligations Assumed by the Mem
bers of the League.
By the Covenant the members OF
the League assume several grave OBJ
legations. Senator Lodge did not put
it the least too severely, too weigh
tily, the gravity of the duties which
the members are to undertake. The
question is whether, grave as they
are, they are worth undertaking for
the sake of preventing war-that is
\