Americus times-recorder., 1919-07-31
ToDAY'S LETTER TAKES UP

N-~~C -NN'N 80" 49, ~ Actit5 60 my -
tain their seats on that body all the |
privileges of the five larger nations. /
the other fact to be noted is that |
the independent sovereignty of each |
member of the league is wholly pre-
served, because it is not bound by
any amendment to which it does not
freely consent, no matter how ever
whelming the majority by which it
is adopted. Yet the difficulty met
with at the Hague, whereby a few
small objectors could block plan, is
avoided by providing that state
which is unwilling to consent to an
amendment duly adopted ceases to
be member of the league. 1t cannot
be a party to covenant that does
not bind all equally and hence it
goes out. This is in accord with the
general principle which runs all
through the covenant; that the men,
bers as independent sovereign states
assume certain definite obligations
specifically described, and further
concert of action is wholly voluntary
on their part.
Plan Basically Sound
Probably no two nations, and per-
haps no two men, would have drafted
the article for League of Nations
precisely alike, and any such docu-
ment must in the nature of things in
volve much compromise. There is
abundant evidence of this in the COW
enant of Paris, not least in the
amendments made to meet objections
raised in America, after the draft
agreed upon by the representatives
of fourteen countries had been pre-
sented to the peace conference. Those
objections seem to have been fully
covered by provisions whose meaning
cannot reasonably be doubted by any
one that believes sincerely in s"ch
league. The principles on which the
league is based are sound, and i'm
pose the least obligations consistent
with the prevention of future wars
The question for a citizen of the
United States is not whether the
covenant represents his views pre-
cisely, but whether on the whole it
is good or not, and whether his coun-
try had better accept it.
Covenant Basis of Treaty
It has been argued that peace with
Germany ought to have been made
first and a league of free nations
organized afterwards. But, quite
apart from the fact that league
must be made at the close Of this
war or the one great opportunity
of centuries would be lost the treaty
of peace has made clear what shrewd
observers had foreseen that the terms
Of the treaty depend for their main
tenance upon league strong enough
to enforce their observance Beside
the article of the covenant itself,
the treaty of peace contains many
provisions for action by the league,
and this is necessary. 1t would other
wise be difficult to execute for ex-
ample, the plans for giving to the
newly constituted states in central
Europe access to the markets of the
free ports. In fact the very existence
of these new states would be in jeop-
ardy without the moral support of
such league,
Cannot Be Separated
The covenenat is, therefore, an es-
sential and integral part of the treaty
of peace, not artificially, but by the
very nature of the case They cannot
: be separated. To cut the covenant
out of the treaty is to amend it, and
leave the whole peace to be negotia-
ted over again between thirty-two in
dependent nations. How long this
would take it is impossible to foresee;
certainly several months, perhaps
longel. During that tim. Germany
would intrigue to bring about 6isa-
greements and meanwhile we should
still be in a state of war, so that our
troops cannot come home, and we
cannot return to the natural course
Of our peaceful Industries and com
merce. Are the amendments desired
in the covenant, mainly questions of
wording, important enough to war
rant the delay and risk?
The Great Crisis
The world stands at crisis in its
history Chastened by war, it is ready
to adopt our principles of arbitra-
ton and disarmament, coupled with
projects for the amelioration of the
lot of mankind, if we will join in
league for the purpose. Shall we do
it or shall we not? Shall we allow
small things to hinder great ones?
Shall We now hold back, or shall we
consent?
(This is the last of the articles of
this series).
TEACHERS EXAMINATIONS