The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-05-23

l. A more explicit and unequivo-
cal protection of the Monroe doc
trine.
2. A clearer reservation of the
right of any nation to discriminate
between races in its immigration laws
and internal affairs.
8. Elimination entirely of article
10 of the covenant. which makes
every member of the league a guar
antor of the territorial integrity" of
every other member.
4. Redfafting of article IL, which
grants blanket power to the league
to deal with any threat of war,
whether Immediately affecting any of
the members of the league or not
The Republicans led by Senator
Lodge who propose these changes de-
clare they approve the principle of
the league and would ratify if thus
amended. There is another group,
among whom are Borah, Poindexter
and Cummins, who seem to be OPP
posed to the principle of the league
and who will not enter party caucus
on the subject which might bind them
to support ratification if amended as
proposed There are also some Dem
ocrats who are opposed to ratification,
conspicuously Reed and Thomas, but
the others are making no expression
in order to avoid embarrassing the
president or creating a party issue
until it becomes necessary to do so.
At present the indications are that
the league will fail of ratification in
the senate, but there are still enough
non-committal votes to turn the scales
in either direction. according to the
way public opinion seems to run.
There is no doubt the events of the
last few days have done much to
strengthen the hands of the opposi-
ton, and especially as to that clause
guaranteeing the territorial integrity
of the member states. when no one
knows what these territories are to be
and when the decisions concerning
them seems to be subject to such
trafficking and such. compulsion as
have been introduced in the Paris
councils.
Another strange feature that has
recently developed, but which seems
to have attracted no attention, is the
inclusion of the British colonies as
full members of the league in the
final text of the covenant, when they
were not included in the original text.
1t is explained that these colonies are
fully self-governing, but that is not
true in the relations created by the
league, which are wholly information
al, whereas the British colonies are
Expressly deprived of international
powers by Great Britain. The colo
mics have absolutely no voice in the
disposal of their own foreign rela-
tons, but under the league covenant
they are given power in the disposal
of foreign relations of other peoples.
India, which is also given member
ship, is not self-governing in any
sense, while the Philippines are, to a
very large extent. If the president
desired to compliment England by
admitting its colonies as equal states,
why Should not England have compli-
mented the United States in similar
way by admitting the Philippines and
Porto Rico, both of which are gov
erned by their Gown legislatures, while
India is not? This second chamber
will probably be without any special
power, in any event, and its compost
ton does not seem to be important.
The council of nine will really make
the decisions and furnish the force.
moral and material, to give them
validity. More than that, majorities
do not govern in international affairs,
under the present laws of nations as
well as for essentially domestic rea-
sons The course or conduct of no
state can be decided by the votes oil
other states, but there will arise ques-
tons that must be decided by vote
Numerou interrelated interests will
or should. come before these Geneva
tribunals. such as port rights, naviga.
tons, fneling, fisheries. photography
cables, and so on unfortunately, which
do not affect national interests es.
pecially but which require definition
and standard rules for general observ
ance. In questions that do come to Z
vote, where any special issue arises
the casting of six votes, through it!
colonies, by Great Britain to one b,
each of the other nations is certain Il
be challenged, and to furnish caus,
for grievance and for unnecessary dis
cord. That illustrates one of the rea
sons why the provisions of this GOV
enant should be examined with tn,
greatest care and wisdom. if it is t.
prove the means of rendering accep
table service to mankind and be effec
tive in keeping the peace of tn
world, as it is designed to do by it,
authors and as it is capable of doin,
if purged of any faint of injustice
Partially, prejudice or selfish advan
tage.
The Responsibility