The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1919-04-03
WAS 1T MADE IN ENGLAND.

1t was first supposed that the covenant
of the league of nations was written by
Mr.. Wilson, but from the information now
in its possession the public may be justi
fed in believing that the covenant of the
league now presented to us is somewhat
composite production, but is in the main,
of English making. 1t is now generally
admitted that England, Mr.. Wilson,
France and Italy each submitted tenta-
tive covenant draft and that the English
draft, with some notifications, was pro-
mulgated. The draft which Mr.. Wilson
presented has not been submitted to us
for our enlightenment and Col George
Harvey, editor of the North American
Review, says America is evidently not
going to be permitted to consider it, to
look at it or to study it. Why should the
American people spend their time in con-
sidering looking at and studying pages
and pages of articles which have been
laid aside as useless? We commend MIR
Wilson for MS good Judgment in putting
his dear deceased il charge of under
taker Creel with orders for strictly pri-
vate funeral We are glad we were not
invited. Nothing can be gained by speak
ing of the faults of the dead The sole
question before US is whether we shall
adopt or reject any or all of the 20 arti-
Giles of the covenant as presented to u.s.
We are now in the midst of crisis which
is we'll nigh world wide Would it not
be both sane and wise for US to consider,
look at and study these above mentioned
20 articles and let the dead rest? It is
evident that large majority of the peo-
pie of the United States desire that a
league of Nations be made. They desire
it because they have hopes that it will
Drolong the years of peace even if it fails
to prevent future warfare Millions of
other peoples have the same nope. That
hope is ages old We presume Moses had
it when he said 'thou shalt not kill, " and
we fear that hope has yet long pilgrim
age before it attains the heights Of frui-
ton.
Great differences OF opinion concerning
the league have developed. 1t is not,
however, the theory of a league of ma
lions which distracts our people. 1t is,
instead, their doubt as to it's text, sub
stance meaning and the responsibilities
which we may be forced to assume, Mr.
Lodge, Mr.. Lowell, Mr.. Knox, Mr.. Harvey
and many other eminent Americans have
publicly discussed the proposed league,
and each have pointed out defects and
admitted that important changes should
be made. In act it is almost unanimous
TX admitted that it should be amended.
Beyond that the discussion has, as yet,
settled nothing Before our people con-
sent to Join with Europe in league of
nations we think they should know and
will demand to be plainly told to what
extent they are to be entangled in the
venture to say that this is just the Ques-
ton to which the readers Of the journal
wan an answer, and a pish, a pooh or an
airy ideaIstic platitude will not answer
that question. Col. Harvey in his article
above referred to, says further that the
British plan which was put forth by the
conference, "Nas shrewdly devised by
English statesmen for the purpose of IN
loading Oh the United States the larger
part of the burdens of Great Britain"
If there is any basis for making this !
statement it should be found in the cove
nant. Article XIX of that document |
says first, that colonies or territories /
Rhich are inhabited by peoples who are
not yet able to stand by themselves, un-
der the strenuous conditions of the mod
ern world" should be put under ''tute- |
age" and that ''the tutelage Of such peo-
pies should be lntrusted to advanced ma
Ions who by reason Of their resources,
heir experience or their geographical
position, can best undertake this RESPONSE
bility, and that tutelage should be exer-
cised by them as manufactures. The
reader will notice that the above quota
ton may mean that the United States
and Great Britain are to govern the turbu-
lent peoples of the world because they
are "advanced nations" and have great
"reSouTCeS," and very ShreWdly, in the