The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-02
Forsner Secretary Of State Sug-
gests Amendments to Cove
nant to Republican
Committee
ANOTHER PHASE OF
REPUBLICAN FIGHT
ON WILSON
Mr.. Root is Unquestionably a
Very Able Attorney Of the
Corporation Type, But His
Failure in Russia Does Not
Recommend Him as World
Pacifier.
New York, March so.-Elihu Root

j
declared himself tonight an advocate
Of the league of nations covenant
made public by the peace conference,
provided it is amended, primarily, by
writing enforcement clauses into the
z aftsc7es calling for arbitration ana
Z limitation OF arlna.Gents by restricting
TO FIVE years the unanimous guaranty
OF the present political and territor-
ial status of members and by pro-
teciing from s1on-American Interior
ence the affairs of the American con-,
Iinents.
ar. Root made his approva. con-
tingent also upon amendments insur-
ing periodical revision OF Information
al law and a general redrafting Of
the covenant Ia an atmosphere lren1ov
ed by several years from the issues
attendant. upon the settlement OF
world war. To dispel doubt as to the
right Of withdrawal from the league
he favored specific reservation Of this
privilege to any signatory coincidenr
with or after the proposed redrafat-
ing conference.
f these changes could be made,
the. former secretary Of state asserted,
it would be, the clear duty Of the
United States to enter into the league
agreement, in keeping with what he
termed the apparent general desire OF
the American public that the country
."lo its: full share toward the estab-
lishnent of an effective international
organization TO preserve. the peace Of
the world
Mr. Root reviewed the league pro-
iect and proposed his amendments, s.x
Ia number in a letter to VIII II. Hays,
chairman Of the Republican national
committee. which the latter gave out
for publication The discussion wasj
in :respense- to- "a request by the party
leaders, who advised the former cab
met member and senator that citizens
in the Republican ranks determined
to do alisthat can possibly be done to-
wards the maintenance Of peace With
ont sacrificing our own supreme ma
tionalis.1i" and seeking ''the best judg-
tnent" to aid them in reaching con-
c,usion, would appreciate study OF
: tile covenant from Mr. Root.
.r. Root proposed that the Monroe
pccsrine-.srhc United States tradi-
tional attitude toward purely Anaerl-
car ouestions'-be withdrawn from
DECISIONS or recommendation Of 9th.
er powers" in a paragraph inserted.
il, the league constitution immediate
ly before the signature o f.ie Amer
lean delegates. Sc based this sus-
eect:cn upon Americas contemplated
! loo yon hanSNSG
q: any need OF Ola World aid in pre-
serving peace ir the Western Her.s-s
phere bu: in compliance with the re-
sssest Of The 'peaceaoie nations" or
Europe that the United States place
IT. power ard influence behind theirs
10 lessen the possibility OF wars III
1s.e!r part OF the world Without
such an amendment, he continued.
surrender ot the Monroe Doctrine is
ineyitabfe," uaGer the terms Of the
eove1ant
TIE leagues provisions for cou-
pn.sory international conference on
political questions IN times OF dan
ser was c;assed by the former secce-
tary as t'a great step forward But
the scheme was not csrried far
Enough. he said It should not mere
" suggest. but compel arbitration OF
al justiEable questions including
those affecting honor and excluding
only those Of policy or politics. He
added that the drafters Of the plan
il leaving to dispatants the privilege
OF submitting to arbitration cues
tions which they recognized as
suitable for submission" had set the
entire subject Of arbitration back
where it was 25 years ago"
Instead Of perfecting and putting
teeth in the system of arbitration
proyided by the Hague conve:l
tion." he stated. they had thrown
those conventions upon the scrap
heaps
He cited the efforts Of the Grant
Arthur, Harrison. Cleveland. Mckin-
ley, Roosevelt and Taft administra
tons to advance the cause Of arbitr;.-
out protest "see the judgment OF
three generations of the wisest and
best Of Americ; Il statesmen concur
red in by the wiset ard best Of os:r
allies thus held for naught.'
Along will, compulsory arbitration,
Mr.. Root urged adoption Of the sug-
gestion of Leon Bourgeois OF the
French peace delegation that the
league be given powers Of inspection
and verfication TO make effective the
proposed general agreement for re-
duction of armaments to the lowest
point consistent with the national
safety of each member Without q
weapon such as~this, he claimed. tae
disarmament commission would be
helpless against some nations whose
public officers would regard it as 8
duty to conceal and mislead" and
the whole effort to secure future
peace would go for nothing"
The former senator advocated
dcanite arrangements in the covcna;:s
fas keeping international lsy ap 10