The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-03-11
TAFT HOPES SENATE WILL AP-
PROVE LEAGUE PLANS.

cation that the covenant of Paris is
not to be ratified.
1T perhaps may bear this construc-
ton, though its declarations do not
necessarily imply this. It declares
that the sense of the Senate is against
the acceptance of the present COW
| enant.
| at should be borne in mind that
the present covenant merely is a re-
port from committee of the con-
ference, signed by the representatives
of the Ia nations who are debating
the present peace to Germany.
"It now comes up in the conference
for discussion, revision and adoption.
Undoubtedly the covenant needs re-
vision. 1t is not symmetrically ar
ranged, its meaning has to be dug out
and the language is ponderous and in
diplomatic patois.
"The form of the covenant is ex-
planned by the fact that it is a COM
promise. France has been struggling
for a league which should have more
teeth in it, should be more complete
organization, with an international
police, completely formed and con-
stantly on duty, under order of a
\
gency involving the action of the
league.
$50 far as the United States is con-
cerned it could not furnished forces
for an army of this kind, to be or
dered by league official into war
without formal declaration of war
in each case by our Congress, and its
authority to use the forces for that
purpose.
owe may assume that there was
the same difficulty with other ma
tons. Nor is the existance of such a
police force necessary. France had
in mind an attack by Germany upon
her. like that made in the war just
ending.
"Not only did France not succeed,
in getting the international police
force, but she did not succeed in
securing a fixed and definite obliga-
ton on the part of the nations of the
league to furnished military forces
to protect the covenants of the
league.
"The only clear positive obligation
of the members of the league is to
levy boycott on the outlaw nations.
'The Executive Council recon-
mends the amount of military force
each nation should furnish, but it
seems to be left to the nation to
ollow its own judgment in this re-
ard, and not to declare war at all,
1T deems the boycott all that it
ught to do under the circumstances.
his part of the covenant might be
fairfield.
"The covenant also should be made
lore definite as to when its obliga-
lions may define as to when its OBJ
igations may be terminated. It
hould be made more definite by a
doctrine.
"There are other ambiguous phras-
s. One of these, for instance, is in
aspect to the Executive Council.
Will it need unanimous vote, or will
majority vote be sufficient where
here is no specification?
The fact that the Senators say it
$ not acceptable is no indication that
49, ---''' vote against it when proper
y revised.
"The view of the Senators that
eace should first be negotiated, and
hen the question of the League of
Nations should be taken up in a more
eisurely way, cannot control Mr.. Will
son. He believes, as many do who
know the European situation, that
the league is an essential to the
treaty in order to make the treaty
practical and effective.
almost the first vote Of the con-
ference was that the league should
be an integral part of the treaty. We
may therefore anticipate that it will
be, and it ought to be.
"Mr. Wilson will therefore return
with the signed treaty having the
covenant in it, and with it's threads
running through all the articles of the
treaty. It will thus be difficult by
amendment to strike out the coven-
ant and leave anything of the treaty
of peace.
aft, however, the Senate insists on
amending the treaty by striking out
the covenant, it will indefinitely post
pone peace, the immediate consum-
nation of which it now declares to be
of the highest Importance.
"When Mr.. Wilson sends the treaty
to the Senate with the covenant in It,
therefore the situation will be very
different from what it is now. The
covenant probably will be changed ia
meet many of the reasonable object
ions that have been made.
"The European countries are
doubtless quite willing to consent to
them. They have deep interest in
securing for the league the prestige
! and power of the United States, al
. we'll as the advantage of it's disinter
estedness and typical democracy
They are anxious to secure the as
sistance of the United States, in or
der to maintain peace in Europe.
p eve may be sure they are entirely
{ willing to leave to the United State
{ and other American nations the polio
I ing of the Western Hemisphere unit
such time as an American power shall
!. seek the assistance of European Pow
ers to met emergencies on this side o
the ocean.
u "The friends of the league are no
e discouraged over the question of it
e ultimate ratification. They sincerel
t hope and believe that with tn
v changed relations of the Senate t
:. the treaty, and with the changes i
!. the covenant, sufficient number O