New-York tribune., 1919-02-15

1t is union of nations, and these ma
tlons intrust the real power to an eX-
ecutlve council of nine nations. Four
Of these are elected from time to time
by the member nations, but five of the
nine members of the executive council
are permanent members. SO control of
the executive council viii always be in
the hands of the United States, Great
Britain, France, Italy and Japan. This
element of permanency and strength in
the executive council is highly i'm
portant feature. In sense the exccu-
tive council possesses legislative and
judicial powers as we'll as legislative
powers, but its jurisdiction and it's
powers are limited in the constitution
In some respects, the covenants
which nations make when they join
the league resemble existing arbitra-
tlon or peace treaties. They agree
never to go to war without submit
ting differences to arbitration, the
arbitrators to be agreed upon, or to
an examination by the executive coun-
Gil, and not even then for three months
after the discussion. The pledge guar
antees against a sudden war and as
sures cooling-off time.
Thinks Anti-War Plan Adequate
Any nation violating this pledge,
even by threatening war prematurely,
| will be considered as making war upon
every member of the league, and then
the executive council is authorized to
determine and recommend what force
each member of the league shall CON
tribute in defense. Before this, how
ever, each nation is also required to
cut off all financial, CONNIE rcial. bust
ness and social relations with the
offending nation. This prospect CON
stitutes most formidable reason why
no nation will thus violate its prom
Use to arbitrate.
"Another important covenant made
by the nations joining the league is
the agreement to make such reductions
of national armaments to the lowest
possible point consistent with national
safety as the executive council shall
determine and recommend. In this
covenant the league constitution is
strong. clear and emphatic
Thinks Document Epochal
"While this particular draft Of the
constitution is not final and will prob
ably be changed somewhat, it consti-
tutes, in my opinion, the greatest in
ternational documen. ever produced.
The nations that enter into this league
get an enormous bencfit from its pro-
lection and secure permanent relief
from enormous expenditure for war.
Most of the power of the league is
permanently intrustcd to the executive
council. The league members only
elect four of this council, and the other
five are permanent members comprs-
ing nations now associated with the
United States in forming the league.
Another covenant in the constitu-
tion which is significant is the agree
ment to respect and preserve against
/ aggression the territorial integrity and
independence of league members. Here,
again, the executive council is author
lied to advise as to the means of bring
ing this out. Significant also IS the
brief declaration that even threat
of war becomes at once the concern
of the league.
with regard to the admission of
new members to the league, it IS sig
nifcant that two thirds vote is re
quired.
German colonies and dependent ter
ritories are to be under league guard
ianship, one member, however, being
made the mandatory to carry out the
league policy This represents the
highest plan of alturstic service
"Neverthe less, believe other ma
tions VIII come into the league, salts
fed to trust the executive council, al
though they only elect four out of it's
nine members. They will see the bcne-
fit Of permanency, stability, strength
and nigh moral purpose represented by
the five permanent members of the
council. They Will know, also, that if
there is any division between the five
| permanent members of the executive
council the four elective members Of
the executive council may hold the
balance Of power, and in any event,
that the association with the five per-
manent members will give to the
smaller nations fair representation
upon the all-powerful executive coun-
cil."