Evening star., 1919-03-28
Covenant News From Paris
Saying Monroe Doctrine
Is Ignored, Disappoints

Saying Monroe Doctrine
Is Ignored, Disappoints
/ Amazement aud keen disappoint-
ment We're expressed here today over
the eabled news from Paris that it is
doubtful whether the Monroe doctrine
amendment can be incorporated in the
league Of nations covenant.
! In senatorial circles apprehension is
felt that the fate of the treaty will be
extremely precarious if it comes to the
Senate containing a proposition which
can be construed as destructive OF this
American policy.
/ Supporters Amazed.
! Supporters of the doctrine are
amazed that the amendment Is sud-
denly found inexpedient; friends Of a
/ league Of nations project are disap-
pointed that the humanitarian plan il
seemingly endangered by omission Of
an amendment which might have Sc
cured their support to the general
scheme.
At a time when it seemed to be the
ma jority opinion of supporters OF the
covenant, as we'll as the unanimous
judgment of those who had opposed it
at the outset. that an amendment is
necessary to protect the Monroe doc
it. Even Mr.. Taft, who had started out
, to indorse the covenant as whole,
upon careful consideration Of it's Ian
guage scencirted In the suggestion
that an amendment is desirable.
| Believed President Would Urge It.
Americans were led to believe by re-
cent dispatches that President Wilson
would urge the amendment. Mr.. Taft
having csabled him advising its presen-
tation, the Taft message going over
the White House wires.
To be sure. in British quarters III
Paris contention continued that the
covenant really did not transgress the
Monroe doctrine; that it were mad
visable to, specify the policy Of amy
US to ever assai1 the doctrine, and all
that sort of thing. The fact remained
that it was generally believed here
that the amendment would be made.
SO convinced were senators OF this
outlook that last Wednesday, several
prominent republican senator's pri-
vately expressed the opinion that this
amendment would practically assure
adoption of the league OF nations
plan. 1t is known that several of them
were preparing to drop open opposi-
tion for the present and remain pas
sive for final Developments.
What Has Brought Changer
What has brought about the
change? was the question asked
everywhere today. Several theories
were suggested by way Of answer.
One was, that it may have been
necessary to drop the Monroe doctrine
amendment in order to placate japan,
who was pushing her demand for
Acknowledgement of racial equality
since the dispatches say that Japan y
amendment also goes out. 49,
In senatorial circles 1t is believed
that this explanation will not be sat-
isfactory. President Wilson himself
has insisted that the immigration
question. which is the core Of the
Japanese insistence. is strictly a do
mcstic question, not subject to lin
itation. determination or even con
structiou by 4 foreign power.
l. Coincide With View.
In this view. 1t is declared. sena-
torial sentiment overwhelmingly coin-
citles. Senator's find il impossible TO
amendment could be abandoned IN;
order to keep Japan from not in
sistihg upon the United States drop
ping another policy which is in
grained i'll American institutions.
Another suggestion by way Of cX-
PLANTATION had to do with the reported
sudden change Of front by the Presi-
dent announced yesterday in favor oil
prolonging peace. negotia tions until u
treaty can be drawn up with all the
former belligerents, making one docu-
ment, embods.ing the league OF ma
tions proposition as we'll. the whole
to be presented to the Senate witt,
the ultinatum that it must he ratified
or anarchy precipitated upon Europe.
Such a paper would omit the Japs-
nese claim and reference TO protec-
ton Of the Monroe doctrine. The
claim made at the outset might be re
itera ted that really after all the cove
nant does not infringe the Monroe
doctrine and that nobody wants to do
So, Il suggestion which has. been re-
futed in this country. in Europe and
which is considered by some of the
yrea test legal minds in America as
lust abou, as tenable AS belief in the
existence of Santa Claus.
Approve Premier's Stand.
The remarks of Premier Hughes OF
Australia on the Japanese i,nmigration
question struck. a responsive chord
in senatorial circles here. That
statesman. declaring that the time
had come to speak plainly and with
out rnincing words. announced that
is irrevoca bly, against rec
oenfzing the right Of any power or
concert OF powers to decide her i'm
migration questions: that the policy
IF Australia is imnnufa able on this sub