South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15


has still some hundred millions Of
{ people OF slavic race: but al pres
ent they are IN such a chaotic con
dition and are 90 distracted by civil
war that their future cannot be
foreseen. II Russia remains perma-
nentIy divided. parts OF it will Ger
'tainly drift into the league. II It
becomes reunited II IS more likely
10 cast in its lot with the league
than TO ally itself with Germany or
remain isolated.
Germany, Austria. Bulgaria.
Apart from Russia. and the for
mcr Turkish dominions which will
be largely absorbed by other states,
there will remain outside OF the
league Germany, a part OF Austria
Hungary and bulgaria After the
losses Of territory these have sus-
tanned they will have a population
OF a little more than 100 millions.
all IN Europe. The members Of the
league. on the other hand. will have
in Europe a population OF over 200
millions. and elsewhere a population
o. European stock OF about $50 mil
lions To these, people OF non
European or mixed race in indie
pendent countries with stable gov
ernments will add some hundred
millions more, besides India China
and all the rest Of the world with
over 700 millions OF people. In men
and money. in commerce and nat
uraI resources, in an that gives ulti-
mate power. the potential force of
the league should be supreme. # its
members keep faith and abide b.
their principles OF maintaining
peace and justice on the earth.
II these figures show the poten
tial force Of the league, they show
also the need OF such a league, the
need of a close and honorable Co
operation among the members. and
not least the need OF watchful al
tention 20 the developments IN cen
trail and eastern Europe.
Independent Action Not Barred.
The second article of the covenant
rrovfdes that its action shall be ef-
fected through the fundamentally
OF an assembly and a council, with
a permanent secretariat- This means
that so far as the members OF the
league act through any common or
gans these are the ones through
which they act. IL does not mean
that they are not TO act directly
without the Intervention o: any or
san OF the league whatever. To
hold such a view would nulLty
many of the obligations which, II
one can use the expression, are per
.sonal ard direct. For example, IN
Article x the members bind them
selves individually 10 preserve and
protect one anothers Independence
and integrity against external as
erosion, the council only giving ad-
vice on the best means Of doing so.
When under Article XIII two mem
hers 90 TO arbitration they do it
+, WITHOUT regard 10 the council or as
senbIy. Under Article XVI the boy
colt or blockade is 10 be set in oper-
alton Immediately by the members
without waiting for action by the
council. which has not discretion 70
authorize or forbid 1t. This is true
also Of the OBLIGATION 10 furnish 1nu-
tual economic support and allow
the passage OF troops. Again tho
agreements for humane treatment
OF labor. etc, impose obligations
directly upon the members OF the
league.
How direct these obligations upon
the members are, how much Is LETT
20 their automatic action, and how
restricted Is the authority Of the or
gans Of the league will be seen more
fully as We proceed 20 examine the
several articles OF the covenant
TO meet criticisms made N Amer
lea. a clause was added 10 the first
article permitting any member OF
the league 10 withdraw after two
Years notice. Such a withdrawal
ought not. Of course, to be permit
ted. in order 10 avoid obltsstionS al
ready incurred: and il Is therefore
very properly subject 20 the provisc
thar these have all been fulfilled
- time ~ the withdrawal