Evening journal., 1919-03-15
Mk. Knox's Constructive
Criticism of The Covendn
(From The New York SUM- J

As astonishing ignorance or avoid
ance OF the facts appears in dis
cussion by the New York World OF the
talk Ia Paris about amendments to the
Wilson covenant:
where Senator Lodge, Senator
Knox and other opponents Of the
present draft OF the league const.-
tuition have laid themselves open to
just censure Is not in their insist
ence upon amendment but in their
stubborn efusal TO suggest changes
and notifications The Lodge reso-
luton declared against The constl-
tuition OF the League OF Nat ons
'in the form now proposed 10 the
Peace Conference but not enc OF
the Senators sighlny IL has had the
good faith 10 indicate the amend
ments that he deems necessary"
Senator Knox was one Of the signers
OF the pledge TO oppose the Wilson
draft OF the league constitution in its
present form, and II the World had in
dulged in the intellectual treat OF read
ing the speech which Mr.. Knox deliv-
cred In the Senate on March 4, It would
not have said in honesty the remark
able words we have quoted.
or course the most important feature
OF the Wilson covenant s the evils that
II contains A secondary, yet very i'm
portant, consideration Is the things that
may be inserted in the document after
the evil things have been torn Oub Sen
ator Knox devoted his address first 10
the perils of the covenant: the loose
ness and unintell gibil,ty of It's word !
ing; the absence OF details of proceed |
ure such as are contained for instance, |
in our own Const tuition; the prospect |
OF the covenants abrogating ourt treat I
les; its power TO force the United
States into wars. not affecting or con- |
cerning us, the covenant making Il GER |
tain that every future war should be a /
world war; its withdrawal from Con-
gress OF the constitutional power to de-
clare war; its power TO send our SOL |
diers to any part Of the earth; its pow
er TO decide how much America must |
contribute, in lives and treasure. to the |
leagues purposes; its sterilization OF
.he Monroe Doctrne-these are the /
principal objections which Americans !
make 10 the present draft of the COW
enant and Senator knox voiced them.
II Senator Knox had stopped with /
that his speech would still be a most
valuable contribution 10 the cause OF
America; but, not content with destruc-
tive criticism. of the bad features OF
the covenant, he went on TO make the I
constructive suggestions which we
must assume the World cannot have
read. As the prime necessity OF any
international agreement reached at Par
is is the prevention OF future wars. Sem
ator Knox suggested three methods.
two Of which are available for consid-
GRAFTON in framing a league constitu-
tion that would be acceptable to Amer
leans. The first Of these was this:
"One way Is to provide for the
compulsory arbitration OF all dis
putes under some such plan as that
provided for In the international
Prize Court, or the unraliiied
American-BFltish and Amer can
French arbitration treaties Of 1911.
or the Olney-Pauncefote Treaty of
1897, or a union OF the best in all
Of them"
In his covenant on this FIRST plan
Senator Knox said that he could re-
call no case between great powers in
which an award made has not either
been carried out as given or has not led
10 an adjustment mutually satisfactory
10 both parties" He then announced a
second possible plan:
III we feel that world interests
and power are reshaping in such a
way that we need 10 be protected
and that we need to protect others.
then let Us form an alliance with
the strongest other power or two
powers Of the world for mutual
protection. That we be not
thrown into quarrels in which we
would have no sympathy we must
choose as our allies those powers
traditions, instltut'o 'ons. ideals, and
people which are most like our
own"
The third plan suggested by Mr..
lnox Is one which he said might be
dopied "if the people Of the United
tates mot clamorous part Of them.
nut a great najority) desire TO estab-
ish a true league OF nations" and are
Wiling 10 make sacrifices for that pur-
'ose. The plan would provide for an
court, with a code which
would define war and would discrimi-
ate between aggressive and defensive
var:
This code would also provide
that one nation could not summon
another before the international
court except In respect to a matter :
Of International and common con- :