Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-03-29
FREEMAN WANTS LEAGUE AMENDED

tine when something eau be done to |
settle peacefully affairs that have |
hitherto led to war. The proper de- |
termination of such questions is above
all party lines. Partisan feeling dis |
appears in dealing with such matters |
as this. Any plan that will make
for the maintenance Of the worlds I
peace, should have and will have the |
earnest support of all our citizens re-
gardless of party. Let us now con- |
slider the proposed plan for the league
of nations,
The preamble states the purpose |
and object of the league with which
every one is in sympathy and &C
cord.
Article one provides Ter the Of
fi,ers and delegates an dthe interna-
| tiona1 secretariat. Eacn ration shall
select its own delegates in such man
ner as shall be deemed best.
Article two provides for the meet
irgs of the body of delegates, and
states that each nation shall have but
enc vite. although it may be repre-
scented by not more thar three dele
gates. Membership Is limited to
| self governing countries including do
| rnonions and colonies. This of course
Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New
leland and South Africa, ard this ap-
parently gives to Great Britain five
| votes, to one Of the United States. Yet
Cuba, Panama, Hayti. San Domingo,
and Nicaragua. are all eligible for
membership, and these countries are
as much under the influence of the
| United States as the colonies are I'M
der the influence of Great Britain.
| Moreover, it is a we'll established rule
of international law that unless there
| Sc r,t.,v RI tho tray
a unanimous vote is required for
| decision.
| Article three establishes the execu-
| tive council, and states that it shall
consist of representatives of the
| United States of America, British
Empire, Frame, Italy, and Japan, to-
getse with representatives from four
other states. members of the league.
it also provides that invitations to at
tend the meetings of the council at
which any matters affecting it's in
| terests are to be discussed, shall be
sent to the nation affected. This al,
sc provides that no decision taken at
any meeting will be birding on such
powers unless SO invited. which of
course meants that IL any power,
| whether a member Of the league or
rot, is invited. that the action taken
regarding that power shall be bind
| ing.
Article four provides that all matter
| of procedure at meetings of the body
| of delegates or the executive council,
including the appointment of the COM
mittees to Investigate particular mat
ters, shall be determined by majority
vote.
Article five provides for the secre-
tariat, and expenses of the office, and
Article six gives to the delegates the
necessary diplomatic immunities and
privileges.
Article seven provides for the adnis-
sion of new states, requiring the as
sent of two thirds of the states repre-
sented in the body of delegates.
i Article eight refers to the disarma-
ment of the nations in the league This
is the first article of far reaching i'm
portance, one of the most important in
the proposed compact. AS originally
written it provides for the reduction of
national ornaments to the lowest point
. consistent with national safety, and
the enforcement of international obli-
cations, and provides that the execu-
tive council shall also determine for
the consideration and action of the
several governments, what military
equipment and armament is fair and
reasonable in proportion to the scale
; of forces laid down in the programme
of disarmament, and these limits when
adopted, shall not be exceeded without
, permission of the executive council
At the present time very few expect
,, this article to amount to anything.
Great Britain will not, cannot give up
J her fleet, France next door to Germany
!, will not and cannot give up her army
and the chances are decidedly against
any limits being adopted by the vari-
Gus governments at the present time
! The treaty of peace. to be sure, will
/ provide for the strict limitation of the
= army of Germany, and the armies OF
the Central Powers who were her al
e lies, but Germany. Austria, Hungary
$ and Russia are three great powers who
4 are not at present members of the
n league, and under these circumstances
England, France and the United States
y will never agree to have their arma-
= ments limited and controlled by ar
e executive council in which each Of
d them has but one vote. The executive
r council is then directed to advise how
a the evil effects of the manufacture o.
f arms by private enterprise can be pre-
f vented but it is not stated just wha
= effect that advice is to have. Alst
o there is a provision that the high con.
Q tracing parties shall not conceal from
n each other their military and nava
e programme.
e Article nine provides for the appoint
: ment of permanent commission tt
advise the league on the execution o
l the armament programme, and on mil
d itary and naval matters generally
s Now we come to Article ten, whicl
Il provides that the high contracting par
= ties shall undertake to respect an,
o preserve as against external aggres
# sion, the territorial integrity of all tn
It members of the league. This is o
IS course a provision of far reaching eff
IS feet. If the United States of Americ,
enters into it, it means that we shal
/ keep and maintain force sufficient t
do it's fair share in the maintenance o
n the territorial boundaries of new an
IS untried Poland. new Servia, an ex
: banded Italy, an enlarged France. Blu
lr this task is in part ours whether Their
If is a league of nations or not, it wi
is be a part of the treaty of peace wit
n Germany, and as such the Unite
l. States of America will be bound to Sc
II that it is thoroughly carried out.
Is Article eleven provides that any wa
t. or threat of war, is hereby declared
l. matter of concern to the league, an
u the high contracting parties reserv
at the right to take any action that ma
a be deemed wise and effectual to safe
y guard the peace of nations "Any &C
lie ton" of course means that they ma
rs use and employ armed forces to kee
~ and preserve the peace in any part
rs the world.
IA Articles twelve, thirteen and fftee
as cover disputes that may threaten /
g destroy the peace of the world. Thes
De disputes are matters that may be sui
is mitted to arbitration, and also matter
I'd that may be submitted to inquiry. ]
l. the latter class are questions that ma
4. 4 =