South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-25
The COUenanter articles
Making Clear the Paris Covenant of
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Continued from Page One)

lE no obligation under the covenant
10 carry DO out. there is an express
agreement not 20 90 20 war with any
party that complies with a. Even
after a unanimous recommendation
war is not absolutely prevented. for
the nation against which e. Is made
may refuse 10 comply with il. and
there may be resOr 10 arms. War In
such case is not. as some people
have asserted. authorized, but II is
not subjected % penalty. Unless
the nations are prepared TO enforce
compliance. and a. present they are
not. the prevention Of war can hard
is be carried farther But IL may be
observed that after d unanimous re-
port. which "OuG undoubtedly be
supported bv H. publ opinion Of
the world. tho eases m Nhich q ma
uoE failed ~ comply would be very
rae.
Where the recommendation is not
unanimous the danger Is greater. IN
effect no judgment has been rem
dered all the states represented on
the council may publish their opin-
ions, and the members OF the league
reserve the right 10 take such action
as they think right. In short the e.
forts OF the league 20 ADJUST the dis
pute have failed. But again We must
remember that even in such case
war or gross injustice is impro bable
Time will have been given for calm
consideration, and the efforts of all
the countries not directly involved
viii be exerted 20 avoid war-iniu-
ences that are powerful for peace.
When the dispute IS referred 10
+ the assembly the same rules apply.
except that a recommendations is Ell
Elective il supported by the repre-
sentatives OF all the states with seats
upon the council and a majority UT
I the rest.
/ Domestic Affairs.
I only one other provision Of this
f article remains 10 be considered. To
/ obviate the fears of many Americans
I that such matters as immigration
/ and tariffs might as subjects OF dis
/ pute, be brought before the council
+ and the authority OF the nation over
/ them be impaired, clause was in
I serted, that II either party claims,
and the council finds that the matter
\ i'm dispute is one which by interna-
! tional law is solely within the juris-
/ diction of that party, the council
I shall so report and make 20 recon-
/ mendation as 20 its settlement This
/ clause inserted for that express pu-
! pose would seem 10 cover the point
I completely. Nevertheless it is OBJ
. oil IN
I opinion from the United States and
I thus our legislative rights may be re
/ stricted. To such aa objection there
\ are two answers. IN the first place
| the desire OF other countries 10 pre-
serve their internal independence is
as strong as our own. It is incon-
/ ceivable that the other states rep
resented on the council should unan-
I imously decide that the tariff or any
other internal matter that we claim
I to regulate for ourselves. is not a do
nestle affair; and it is only unani
mously that an effective judgment
against us could be given. In regard
I TO the most sensitive point Of all
7 that Of immigration. If England
were 20 vote that il was not under
/ domestic control, il might break up
the league but in view of the feel
I ing in Canada, South Africa and
I Australia. it would certainly disrupt
F the British empire. The second an
I swer is that one cannot make a con-
/ tract and insist that the interpreta-
7 ton Of il shall always be in ones
/ own hands. The clause is perfectly
\ definite its object is perfectly un-
I derstood. and if we can trust none
/ OF the other principal membes Of the
I league TO act honestly. fairly and
reasonably let us make no league