Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-31

ROOT FOR LEAGUE
IF IT'S AMENDED
Proposes Six Alterations in
the Proposed World
Treaty
-
"A CLEAR DUTY OF u. S."
Agreement Is Necessary, but
With Enforcement Clauses
He Specifies
"A CLEAR DUTY OF U. s."

NeW nork, MafCn 3l.-Ellhu Root
last night declared himself an advocate
OF the league of nations covenant made
public by the Peace Conference, pro-
vided 1t Is amended, primarily. by writ
ing enforcement clauses into the arti-
cies calling fer arbitration and limita-
ton of armaments. by restricting to
.nve years the unanimous guaranty of
the present political and territorial
STATUS Of members and by protecting
from non-American interference the af-
fairs Of the American continents.
He made his approval contingent also
upon amendments assuring periodic re-
vision of international law and a gen
eral redraftlng of the covenant in an at
mosphere removed by several years
from the issues attendant upon the set
tiement of world war To dispel
doubt as to the right of withdrawal
from the league, he favored specific
reservation of this privilege TO any sig
natory, coincideht with or after the pro-
posed redrafting conference.
IL 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 agree
ment. in keeping with what he termed
the apparent general desire OF the Amer
lean public that the country do its full
share toward the establishment of an
effective International organization to
preserve the peace of the world"
Mr. Root reviewed the league project
and proposed his amendments, six in
number, in letter to Will II. Hays.
chairman of the Republican national
committee, which Hays gave out for pub
lication. The discussion was in response
to request by the party leader.
Text of Mr.. Roots Criticism
Mr.. Root, in his answer to Mr.. Hays,
declares:
Il am sure that all Of us earnestly
desire that there shall be an effective
international organization to preserve the
peace of the world, and that our coun-
try shall do its full share toward the
establishment and maintenance of such
an organiza tion. I do not see much real
controversy about that among the
American people. either between parties,
or within parties, or otherwise.
", Il think there should be several very
Important amendments to the agreement
The avowed object of the agreement
H. to prevent future wars. That is
what interests us. We are not trying to
get anything for ourselves from the
Especially important among the
snciliary articles is Article NJ. which
declares war or threat Of war to be
AAx 30
Article XII, which prohibits going to war
without the submission of the dispute
and without allowing time for its settle
ment or contrary to unanimous recon-
nendation of the executive council or an
award of arbitrators (lf there shall have
been an arbitration). and Article XVI
which provides for enforcing the provi-
sions of Article XII by economic boycott,
or, should the powers choose to do SO,
by military force. I think these provi-
regarded as free from any just objection,
SO far as they relate to the settlement
Of the political questions at which they
are really aimed.
~ Obligatory Arbitration Urged
"The first change which I should
make in this agreement accordingly
would be to give effectiveness to the
judicial settlement of international dis
putes upon questions of right-upon
making the arbitration of such questions
obligatory under the system established
by The Hague conference. or before the
proposed court OF arbitral justice, or. IL
before some specially consisted tri-
bunal, putting the whole world upon the
same footing in that respect that has
Deen created between the United States
sented in Paris, by means Of the special
treaties which we have made with them.
The second change which L think
shoufd be made is to provide for a gen.
ferences at stated intervaie to discuss,
agree upon and state in authentic form
the rules of International law. so that
the development of law may go on and
= more perfect system of rules Of right
conduct to apply In their decisions.
Pact Would Surrender" Doctrine
with reference to ths most important
american question, Europe as q whole
on one side and the United States on
the other, occupy positions which, how
ever friendly, are nevertheless In opposi-
tion. 1t must be remembered that the
league of nations contemplates the MEM
no Sny m Of e sons q Ass Ea
rope. Now, the Monroe Doctrine was
declared against those nations of Eu-
rope. 1t was a warning to them not to
y
mitting exceptions and speaking only in
the most general way, the nations of
Europe are on one side of that question
and the United States is on the other.
council composed chiefly of european
powers is to surrender 1t.
II will add, without taking up space
TO discuss it. that 1 cannot escape the
conclusion that 10 ratify this agree
ment as 1t now stands would itself be
a surrender of the Monroe Doctrine, and
that the agreement as 1t now stands
gives to the United States no effective
mhintenance of that doctrine affords.
e"rhe same thing is true of immigra-
tion. The nations OF Europe in general
are nations from which emigrants go.
Immigrants mn come. Apart from Great
Britain, which would be bound to look
after the similar interests of Canada and
australia. Europe and America are
bound to look at questions of emigrations
and immigrations from different points
OF view, and under influence of different
points of view, and under the influence
ef different interests, friendly. indeed,
but opposing
Article X Is AssaiIed
'sThe fourth point upon which think
there should be an amendment is Article
*. which contains the undertaking to re-
spect and preserve as against external
aggression the territorial integrity and
existing political independence OF all
members OF the league
Looking at this article as a part OF
perpetual league FOR the preservation of
peace, my first impression was that the
whole article ought to be stricken out.
preserve for all time unchanged the dis.
tribution of power and territory made
In accordance with the views and ex-
igencies OF. the Allies in this present
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