The sun., 1919-03-31

there shall be a reduction of national
ornaments TO the lowest point con-
sistent with national safety. that the
Executive Council shall formulate plans
for general agreement as to the
amount OF these reductions, and hat
when an agreement has been made by
the Powers the parties will not conceal
from each other. but will give full and
frank information regarding their In
dustries capable OF being adapted to
warlks purposes. the scale OF their
ornaments and their military and naval
programmes.
Article provides for a permanent
| commission to advise the league on
the execution Of these provisions. This
full Information Is essential. Other
wise one nation will suspect another
of secret preparation and will prepare
to protect itself in the same way. 80
that the whole scheme of limitation will |
be destroyed There would he some
Justification for this. because there are !
some nations OF whom II would be Idle |
to expect the truth on such a subject |
their public officers would regard 1t as |
a duty to conceal and mislead The |
only way to prevent that sort Of thing |
Is by giving the permanent commission |
power of inspection and verlfication. |
Every country should assent to this just |
as every trustee and treasurer Is willing |
to have an independent audit OF his
accounts. / annex such an amendment
Not q Conclusive Instrument.
Enough has been said already to in
dictate that this Constitution OF a League
of Peace cannot be regarded as a fnal
and conclusive instrument. II neces-
sarily leaves much to be determined
hereafter. We do not know yet what
nations n N No Y,,Aplhara af the
league. what nations are to be repre-
sented in the council. what the limta-
lions OF ornaments, what tho regula-
itons for the manufacture OF munitions,
or what the parties understand to be
the scope OF the provisions for freedom
of transit and equitable treatment for
commerce.
THE provision of Article 10 81 which
II fully approve). relating to manda-
tories to aid or take charge of admins
tration in new States and old Colonies.
necessarily leaves both the selection OF
the manufactures and the character OF
Their powers and duties unsettled. All
these uncertainties are not matters for
criticism, but OF necessity. arising from
the situation Still more important is
the fact that no one knows when or
upon what terms the Central and East
ern Powers are to be admitted to the
league.
1.-THE whole agreement IS at present
necessarily tentative. II cannot really
| ne a League of Peace in operation for
number of years to come II Is now and
, in the immediate future must be rather
3 an alliance OF approximately one-haf
of the active world against or for tho
control OF the other half. Under these
circumstances Il would be most unwise
to attempt to give to this agreement
: fnality and make the specific ooliga-
lions of its members irrevocaole. There
should be provision for its revision IN
, a calmer atmosphere and when the
world Is less subject TO exciting and
, disturbing causes. In the meantime the
, agreement should not be deemed irrev-
: ocable. The last amendment which l
, annex In directed 10 that end,
! ~ the amendments which ! have sug-
gested are made. think 1t will be the
I clear duty OF the United states TO enter
A into the agreement.
an that case It would be the duty OF
Congress to establish by law the offlces
of representatives OF the United States
A | in the body of delegates and the Ex-
ecutiye Council. just as the offices OF Am
= bassadors and Ministers are already
n provided for by law. and the new offi-
d ces would be filled by appointment OF
o the President with the advice and con-
f Section .. Of the Constitution OF the
: United states"
I The text OF Mr.. Roots proposed
( amendments as drawn by him follows:
d FIRST AMENDMENT.
n strike out Article XIII. and insert
the following:
=, The high contracting Powers asree
: | TO refer to the existing Permanent
Court OF Arbitration at the Hague.
or to the SQUIRT OF arbitral Justice
p-oposed at the second Hague con-
ference when esta blished, or 10 some
% other arotral tribunal. all disputes
o between them Cincludins those az
fecting honor and vital interests)
~ which are of justciable character.
II and which the Powers concerned have
, failed 10 settle by diplomatic meth
=, DDS. The Powers so referring TO ar
"a bitrauon agree TO accept and give
n efect to the award OF the tribunal.
>. Disputes of a iusticable charao-
q tar are defined as disputes as 20 the
IN Interpretation OF a treaty, as to any
l. question of international law, as to
g the existence of any fact which II
,e established would constitute breach
d Of any International obligation. or
"a as to the nature and extent OF the
A. reparation to be made for any such
10 breach.
Of Any question which may arise as
De 10 whether a dispute Is OF a tustcla-
20 BILE character Is to be referred for
10 d.cIsion to the court OF arbitral
"a Justice when constituted, or, until It
Is constituted. TO the existing Per-
Il ranent Court Of Arbitration at The
"a Hague.
+ SECOND AMENDMENT.
n. add TO Article XIV the following
oe para graph:
no The Executive Council shall call
= a general conference OF the Powers
a. 10 meet not less than two years or
=. more than nve years after the sign
A. ing OF this convention for the pur-
G. pose OF reviewing the condition or
he international law and of agreeing
81 upon and stating in authoritative
IL form the principles and rules thereon
y. Thereafter regular conferences for
~ that purpose shall be called and
M held at stated times.
en- THIRD AMENDMENT.
no
e. Immediately before the signature o
the American delegates insert the fol
Al lowing reservation:
oh Inasmuch as in becoming a menu
in Der OF the league the United States