Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-07-16
ODA ,
ARTICLES XVII-XX.
Nations Outside League.

nations outside of the Covenant; and
Article XVII is aimed at such cases.
The outside nation engaged in a dis
pute, even if of a character that
threatens war, is not treated as an
outlaw, but is offered for the pur-
pose of the dispute the benefits as
well as the obligations of membership
in the League. If it accepts the invi-
tation it obtains the same protection
as member from attack by it's ad-
versary, whether within or without
the League; and if there is a volun-
tary submission to arbitration it has
the same right as a member to de-
mand that the award be carried out.
This is certainly treating the outsider
fairly.
On the other hand the outsider,
whether it accepts the invitation or
not, is restrained from attacking
member by the same penalties that
would be applied to a signer of the
Covenant. In other words the men,
bers agree to help one another against
attacks from the outside as we'll as
against those from one of their own
number They could hardly do less.
When the controversy is between
two outsiders, both are invited to join
the League for the purpose of the
dispute, and, if either of them accept
the position is exactly that already
described, because the one accepting
has for this purpose the standing of a
member of the league. If both re-
fuse the obligations of membership
cannot be directly applied, but hos
tilities are to be prevented, and the
Council is authorized to take such
measures and make such recommen-
dations as will prevent them. Since
the Council has no forces under its
orders and cannot command those of
it's members without their consent,
the measures it can take must be of
diplomatic nature to be followed by
recommendations for the use of force
if necessary. But practically this will
not happen, because it is highly I'M
likely that both of the outside ma
tons desire war and the one that
does not will certainly accept the
invitation of the League.
Restraining Influences.
This method of preventing war with
or among non-members is both fair
and ingenious. They are subjected
to the penalties and are offered the
benefits of membership, except that
temporary membership gives no
consultative voice in the general man.
agement of the League. Hence there
will be decided advantage in enter
ing the League permanently, and an
association Of all truly self-governing
countries to maintain the peace of the
world. Hence also the power of ex-
.pulsion conferred upon the Council by
the last clause of Article XVI, be-
comes serious penalty, that will 60
far to secure the carrying out of ar
bitral awards and the observance of
all the other obligations of the Cove
nant.
No Secret Treaties
The object of Article XVIII re-
curing treaties or engagements to be
registered with the Secretariat and
published is simply to prevent secret
treaties and especially secret military
alliances. 1t is wholly in accord with
our national traditions. Some people
have suggested that an honorable
country which has made a secret
treaty will feel bound in honor to
execute it and therefore the provision
that such a treaty shall not be bind
ing will have no effect. To this there
are two answers. First that an hon
orable country will not make a secret
treaty contrary to its agreement in
the covenant. Second that in the free
nations of the league treaties cannot
prac ideally be carried into effect
without the action of the representa-
tive legislative bodies and these
might naturally resent treaty made
without their knowledge in violation
of the covenant; might very properly
ACSoLu IL clS lIlduIiIOIlLSu anu refuse
to carry it out. A change of the party
in power might will result in its re-
pudiation; for it would be fraud,
not only upon the other members of
the league, but also upon the repre-
sentative body and the people of the
country that aaade it. A secret treaty
would be dangerous thing for :
government to undertake, and dem
gerous thing for the other nation to
rely upon. Therefore, it is not likely
to be made.
The criticism that in the United
States treaty is made when the rat
ifications are exchanged has no
weight as an objection to this pro-
vision because the exchange can be
made when the treaty is delivered
to the Secretariat of the league, as
a deed of land is often delivered at
the registry of deeds.
Reconsideration of Treaties