The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-16
II Constitutional Amendment Nee
esssry Before We Enter tho
Proposed League?

'
published official summary Of changes
In the draft Of the constitution Of the
League of Nations, some Of our more
important and dangerous obligations
under the system are modified and
safeguarded---on the surface Of the
woris--by the recognition Of the Mon
roe Doctrine and the new provision
requiring a unanimous vote both In
the Assembly and in the Executive
Council Of the League
1. For example, we are invited by
Article x. to undertake:
ITO preserve a. against external
aggression tho territorial integrity
and existing political independence o.
all states members Of the League. In
case Of any such aggression. or in
case OF any threat or danger Of such
aggression. the Executive Council
shall advise upon the means by which
the obligation shall DO FULFILLED"
2. And in case any member Of the
League breaks the covenant and
makes war opits own hook, without
submitting the questions and matters
involved to arbitration or to the judy
ment of the Executive Council, or re-
fuses to walt three months before
proceeding to hostilities, as provided
by Article NIL, we are also engaged
by Article XVI:
ITO subject II [the offending
Power1 to tho severance Of all trade
or financial relations, the prohibition
Of all intercourse between their ma
tionals and the nationals Of the cove
nant breaking state. and the preven-
ton OF all financial. commercial or
personal intercourse between the ma
tionals Of the covenant breaking
state and the nationals OF any other
state. whether Q member OF the
League or not"
3. And in case we ourselves should
become the object Of aggression by n
covenant breaking fellow member of
the League. and We should be willing
to 60 to arbitration or to submit the
matter to the Executive Council for
Its recommendation, and our enemy
should refuse so to do, nevertheless
we are engaged by Article Kill:
I'm no case [to1 resort to war
until three month"; after the
award by the arbitrators or . recon-
mendation by the Executive Council"
4. And in case we are a party 70
any existing trenty which may be held
to be Inconsistent with the terms" of
the present covenant. we are engaged
by Article XIV. to agree:
THAT the present covenant is ac-
cepted as abrosatins all Obligations
inter 80 which are inconsistent with
the terms thereof"
Let US sec how far, in these several
instances. the constitutional authority
Of the Government ut Washington and
its Independence Of any form Of super
sovereignty are safeguarded by the
vague exception as to the Monroe Doc
trlne, the requirement Of unanimous
vote in the Executive Council and the
new provision, reported In the Official
summary Of changes, that when the
Council recommends the contribution
of armed force" to be supplied by the
several governments 1.-THE approval OF
the latter is necessary"
This can be done best, perhaps, by
asking few questions to which mel.
Their the League constitution be.
fore it's latest process Of amendmen,
nor the published summary OF
adopted changes therein supplies clear
| answers.
II an obligation to assist, let us say
in preserving the territorial integrity
and political Independence Of Czecho.
Slovnkia against invasion by a Bolshe
visit Hungary nt the unanimous call
Of the Executive Council is modified
by the Monroe Doctrine. who 10 to dc
termine whether the Monroe Doctrine
applies in that particular case?
Obviously, the representative Of the
United States in the Executive Coun,
Gil. The casting of his vote for In.
tervention can involve the United
states In war. The Withholding of his
vote prevents action by the League
His vote makes war or peace for this
country. II It II subject to final de.
clsion Mt Washington. ne the reported
change seems to imply, IL that author.
ity to rest in the Congress or in the
President? Who is to appoint the
representative Of the United States
sitting in the Executive Council Of the
Leaguo2 who ls to instruct him as to
his course in interpreting the Monroe
Doctrine for his Government? Who IL
to instruct him whether t. vote for
action or for the prevention Of action
by the League in the matter Of inter.
vention to protect Czcclio. SlovalAa
against Bolshevist Hungary
| These questions do not concern the
League as nm international body. but
they decidedly concern the United
States Government, as n constitution.
ally created and constitutionally lin
tied instrument of power.
When the proposed constitution OF