The Monticellonian., 1919-10-24

guided by the consideration that the immediate commanders know hest the relative merits of the officers under their command and are best qualified Co judge which officers will be of the greatest value 10 the military eStab- Itslment for the particular work 10 be accomplished hy this establishment between now and June 30. 1920. The army has important work to do before that date and the retention of tem- porary officers must be based upon their fitness to do this work rather than as reward for their services during the war.
 Ranks Must Be ReadJusted.
 The war department has fixed the number of officers that there may be in each grade If the 1s.000 officers, thereby terminating the opportunity for extensive promotion that has ex- isted during the War In getting the ls,e00 officers into these grades. there must he sacrifices of rank and pay throughout the service; Il necessary consequence of readiusting the rank of officers from that held in d military force having 100000 officers 10 those they can properly hold in force hdv- ing only 1S,OOO officers.
 The temporary officers to be retained will he largely applicants for perma- hent appointment. These officers along with all others have reached grades in the large army raised during the war that they cannot expect to hold in the small peaee-time force. A determination of the decrease in rank of these officers in order to properly it them into the new commissioned force will be made by the war depart ment and announced in orders.
 Much Treaty Legislation Needed.
 Ratification of the treaty of peace with Germany will not end the responsibility of congress in con Hection with the pact There will still remain the question as to how nu- merous provisions of the treaty are to be administered. It ts reasonably eer- tain that congress, in euaeting legisla- ton that will be necessary in order to put into effect many provisions of the treaty SD fur as the United States k concerned. will see 10 il that broad powers are retained by the legislative body. OF at least by the senate. AssQm- ing that the treaty, with the League of Nations covenant included, will be rati- ffFH with t4f .rrfll be necessary for the United States te have representative on large mum Der of international tribunals.
 The treaty is silent as to how these representatives If the government shall be appointed Should congress fail to act, the president would appoint in every instance. But congress. SD the lenders in the two houses say. has no thought of failing to act IL will pro vide, through legislation. if present plans are carried out, that all repre- sentatives of the United States on the international tribunals shall be nomi- hated by the president and confirmed by the senate.
 " iNb tiAN tittlAs SpV0 lAlt9 tIAENt there will be opened up an entirely new field of international activity. It is a field that will call for trained men of the best type Congress will fix the salaries of these men and will, of course, have to appropriate money to meet the expenses of the United States in participating in the numer- ous new international activities.
 Will Require Many Experts
 There will have to be q mixed arb- tral tribunal established between each of the allied and associated powers on the one hand and Germany on the other within three months after the of the treaty. Each of these tribunals is to consist of three mem bers The United States will. in case the treaty is ratified, appoint one mem Der of the tribunal which is to repre- sent il, Germany will appoint one mem Der, and the two thus appointed will choose the third. There will also have to be created a permanent commission which will advise the council of the League of Nations on military, naval and air questions. II will also be nee esSarY for the United States to name members of more than score of other commissions that are to deal with problems growing out of the war.
 A typical commission is the one pro vded for to deal with the Saar basin. This commission. it will he recalled, is to consist of five members chosen by the council of the League of Nations and will include one citizen of France, one native inhabitant of the Saar ba- sin. not q citizen of France, and three members belonging to three countries other than France or Germany. In this particular case the treaty does not say specifically that the United States must be represented but if is taken for granted that it will be. In nearly ev- cry other case in which q commission is provided for the United States is as one of the countries that must he represented
 Congress will also have to deal with the mandatories. If. as Is generally understood, this government agrees to look after the Armenians, congress will have to say how the government shall go about this. There is also pro- vision in the League of Nations cov- enant for q permanent commission which is to receive and examine all the annual reports of the maudatories provided for under the treaty, and the United States is to be represent ed on this commission.