Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-22

The fact that British colonies have
voting power in the league Of nations
general labor conference will prove a
source Of strength to the United States
instead of an embarrassment" ac-
cording to a cable message from Presi-
dent Wilson, explaining recent changes
in the labor covenant, read at the
American Federation of Labor conven-
ton here today by Samuel Gompers'
leader Of organized labor.
In this message. received by MI.
Gonnpers late today, President Wilson
also asserted he bcneved changes tn
the labor covenant were not substan-
TALLY important, iriasmuch as every
labor convention adopted by the con-
ference must be submitted to our own
government for ratification" thus
leaving "the choice Of acceptance or
rejection in our hands,"
Replies to Point Raised.
After first setting forth in detail the
changes-which are similar to those
already published and Endorsed at yes
terday's session Of the convention
the President then proceeded to reply
to q point raised in a cable sent him
by Mr.. Gompers. This. point, accord
ing to the Presidents reply. now APP
pears in the treaty of peace under ar
ticle 405.
1T am convinced" read the Presi-
dents message, that, except for
changes in wording which do not
affect the substance and spirit of
those (before mentioned) clauses, they
remain the same.
Second Likewise your protocol to
article 10 has been transferred to
body of treaty under article 405. The
resolutions adopted by the commits
sion do not appear in the treaty. in
asmuch as they were merely pro-
posals of separate delegations and no
part of the report as unanimously
adopted, for incorporation in the
treaty.
Third. A number of changes Of
form have been through the draft
convention to make it conform in
phraseology with the covenant of
the league of nations as redrafted
by the league of nations commission.
For example, the words, the high
contracting parties now read mem
hers and other similar unimportant
changes. ~,
Fourth, on April II at the plenary
conference which adopted the report
of the labor commission, Sir Robert
Borden made the following remarks:
This convention is linked in many
ways by its terms to the covenant of
the league of nations and I think It
desirable to make it perfectly plain
that the character of it's membership
and the method of adherence should
he the same in the one case as In the
other
He then offered the following which
was unanimously adopted by the con-
ference:
Amendments Are Authorized.
.rhe conference = authorized the
drafting committee to make such
amendments as may be necessary to
have the convention conform to the
covenant of the league Of nations in
the character of it's membership and
in the method of adherence
"In pursuance of this resolution the
following changes were made:
"'Article one of your commissions
report, together with the first two
clauses of your article as. together
with article SO, have been combined
as article 3s7 Of the treaty to read:
"'"A permanent organization is here
by established for the promotion Of
the objects set forth in the preamble.
The original members of the league
of nations shall be the original mem
bers of this organization and here
after membership of the league Of
nations shall carry with it member
shin In the said organization"
Offers Points to Be Considered.
"As you doubtless have in mind. the
changes have the effect of giving the
British dominions and colonies sep