Albuquerque morning journal., 1919-03-12

stances should the consent of more
than majority be required for the
admission of any qualified nation.
The faults of the constitution are
to be found in its indefniteness rather
than in things positively objection
able. For instance, it is not stated
with sufficient clearness that thel
Monroe doctrine, is to be preserved
Our nation Is not asking to be permit
ted to assist in the settlement of Eu-
ropean disputes and therefore, it'll
ought not to be asked to give up its
paramount influence in the western
hemisphere as condition precedent
to its entry into the league. Then, too,
it is not stated with sufficient clear
ness that league member is not re-
quired to become q mandatory. 1T
ought to be definitely stated that a
nation asked to become a mandatory
is at liberty to accept or decline.
Again, it should be made clear that
the league is not to interfere in the
internal affairs of the nations belong
ing to the league. The league is for
the settlement of international dis
putes, not for the adjustment of diff
ferences between a nation and its own
people.
Feature Most Important.
Another matter should be made
clear--and nothing can he more i'm
portant than this--is that each nation
has right to decide for itself wheth
err it will undertake the things ad-
vised by the general council. But no
| doubt should be left on this subject.
| This nation cannot afford to allow a
| council in which it has so small a
| voice to carry it into war against its
| will Our people will have as much
sense when the time comes to act as
| they have now, and they will have
more light to guide them. When the
| emergency arises and they understand
all the circumstances and conditions,
they may be willing to assist by force,
but they cannot decide in advance or
allow a council to decide for them.
"The constitution of the league
would now seem to imply the right of
the council to compel the declaration
of an economic boycott blythe mem
bors of the league. This is not quite
so serious as the declaration of war,
but economic boycott is likely to de-
| velop into a war and an economic
boycott may be peculiarly adVan7
tageous to the nations that want to
declare it. our interests may not be
identical in this respect, and we ought
to have right to say at the time
| whether we would declare such a boy
colt.
Scope Should Be Broader.
Il venture to suggest that the scope
| of the leagues work might we'll be
extended beyond what is now contem-
plated a substitute for war must be
| able to deal with every situation that
/ can become a cause of war. One of
\ the most fruitful causes of war has
been the necessity for expansion.
Growing nations feeling the necessity
for more room, have often gone to
war on some clumsy pretext when the
! real purpose has been to secure terri
tory for an increasing population
i The right to live is one of the inalien-
able rights, II is a primal right that
must be recognized in nations as well
as individuals.
Nations must exercise the right OF
taking unused land and distributing
\ it among those who, need it. So, II
: the league of nations is to substitute
reason for war, it must be able to deal
with claims that are made for the
! waste places of the earth. A nation
feeling a need for more territory
should be able to go before the league
and present it's claims, and point out
4 the territory which it can use to ad-
vantage. The council should consld-
er the claim and advise it and the
force of public opinion should be used
to secure such an adjustment of equi-
ties, as would afford a peaceable
means of securing needed territory
Such adjustments could be made the
easier If the league endorsed the
proposition that any nation extending
, its sovereignty over new territor,
should stand ready to purchase the
property of residents who do not de-
sire to remain under the new sover'
4 eighty. The resident does not go witt
, the land. He, has rights independeni
and superior to the right OF the land
If against his will, he Is brought un'
! der new sovereignty. he ought to %