The Bismarck tribune., 1919-03-29
OFFERS
AMENDMENTS TO
LEAGU E DRAFT
Says Tenth Articles Is Trouble
Breeder, Not Peace
Maker

.r NN0nCA
New York. March 27.-Seven amend
ments to the league Of nations cove
nant, intended primarily by their an-
thor to insure the American continent
against European aggression, to pro-
tect the United States from enforced
administration of foreign territory and
to revoke the trouble breeding" guar
anty of the existing political independ-
ence of member nations, We're proposed
by Charles +. Hughes.
Minor suggestions of the former re-
publican presidential candidate were
that definite limitation be placed upon
the leagues field of inquiry, reserv-
ing to the several nations exclusive
control OF immigration, tariffs and
other internal problems, that Nproyis-
ion be made for the withdrawal Of
states from the organization, and
that the requirement of unanimous de-
cisions by the league be cleared up.
In an address before the Union
League Club reviewing eXhaustively
the terms Of the proposed covenant,
Mr.. Hughes declared that the Amer
lean people ''were entitled to bet
ter piece of work" He said mis-
take had been made in giving the i'm
preston that the document was fin
ished product with good reason for
its choice of expressions, when later
it was found necessary to excuse it
as a hasty draft which required re.
vision. He added that much would
have been gained" if at the outset
part of the time expended in its
praise had been devoted to it's cor
rection."
The Hughes amendments" sug-
gested aside from formal improve
mcnts," were stated as follows:
u) Explicit provision, as to the
requirement Of unanimity of decision.
: (2) Suitable limitation AZ to the
field of, the leagues inquiries and ac-
tion, so as to leave no doubt that the
internal concerns Of states, such as
immigration and tariff laws, are not
embraced
CD Providing that no foreign
power shall hereafter acquire by con-
quest purchase, or in any other way,
| any possession on the American con-
tinent or the islands adjacent thereto.
ca Providing that the settlement
of purely American questions shall be
remitted primarily to the American
nations, and the European nations
shall not intervene unless requested
to do so by the American nations.
90 Omitting the guaranty (of the
existing independence of member ma
tions of Article X).
60 Providing that no member Of
the league shall be constituted man.
datory without its consent, and no
European or Asiatic power shall be
constituted mandatory Of any Amer
icaan people.
CD Providing that any member Of
the league may withdraw at its pleas
lre on a specified notice.
Mr.. Hughes criticised severely the
tenth article of the covenant, under
which the "high contracting parties
undertake to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence of all states members Of
the league" Conceding the argument
that this clause had been included to
protect the nations born Of the war,
the speaker regarded it .'as trouble
BREEDER" and not a peace maker"
1t makes no allowance, he said Tor
changes in the makeup of member
nations which may be found advisable
and "ascribes soundness of judg-
ment to the peace conference in erect
ing states and defining boundaries
which nobody in the history Of the
world has ever possessed"
Mr.. Hughes declared that he saw
neither severity nor hardship" in the
articles relating to Investigations and
recommendations by the league for
reduction of armaments. He regard
ed the provisions for arbitration as
confined generally to existing prac-
tice," and falling far short Of any
positive assurance against war"
Emphasizing that submission of in
ternational disputes to the league
authority is optional also as is the
decision Of member nations to go to
war to enforce an award of the arbi-
tration authorities made after such a
submission, he found merit, however,
in the cooling off, process set up IN
the allowance of three months for
consideration Of the arbitratOrs de-
cision before disputes may go to war.