New-York tribune., 1919-02-15

Inc vital questions to be asked In re-
spect to the draft of the proposed agree
ment yesterday reported to the Paris
conference are two:
L. Does it safeguard peace?
2. Does it represent any substantial
gain over The Hague agreement of 1907
in the direction of making war less
likely?
On the answers that are returned to
these interrogatories depends the conclu-
sion of whether or not it is worth while
for candid men to urge their nations to
adhere to the plan. The Hague plan was
not adequate to prevent war or to stay
its coming for as much as day. Thus
there is datum, line from which to
measure. The new scheme must te
qualitatively different from The Hague
one to be worthy of support.
There is no direct safeguarding of peace.
To each nation is reserved liberty of ac-
ton. There is no limitation on arma-
ments, no international police force un-
der the control of the league Every
serious question is referrable to home
governments for the real decision. The
executive committee provided for is in
the nature of an ambassadoral council,
g ,v,1o
The only advance is the slight one in the
provision for meetings at stated times,
instead of as now on call.
But indirectly there is a gain. We
have before US something in the nature
of an entente cordiale, such as was estab-
lished between Great Britain and France
when they agreed not to act together,
but when trouble threatened to confer
with view to action. In the recognition
of the entente principle there is great
victory for French ideas. France want
ed an open defensive alliance with her
present principal war associates and,
failing this, an international army to en-
force the DEGREES Of the peace league.
But she will secure, if the treaty is rati-
fed, an obligation on the part of her
present war associates to confer" with
her if crisis develops. Among nations
with high sense of honor a moral obi
cation is commonly as binding as an ex-
press undertaking.
The reply to the second interrogatory
is less easy. In the wilderness of words
it is difficult to keep a sense of direction
The excellence of the desires and pur-
poses declared for tempts a reader into
pleasant bypaths and obscures the road
to realities. No sanction in the way of
military power for any direct enforce
ment of the judgments Of the league is
provided, but there is qualified eco
nomic sanction.
When a unanimous decision has been
arrived at by the council concerning
matter on which it has jurisdiction
and a member of the league refuses to
abide by the result, then there shall
be severance of trade and financial rela-
tions with it. What degree of effective
ness such pressure, if applied, would
have is probematica, but in some
measure it would probably be deterrent.
The weakness Of the article is that.
should the decision not be unanimous
and it might easily not be with manv
nations participating in the council
there is no sanction except the publica-
ton of majority and minority reports
With respect to non-league members the
action proposed is more peremptory. II
not submit to decision, boycott is to
be proclaimed
In regard TO sanctionless agreements
the draft is significantly less ambiguous
than with respect TO agreements with
the boycott sanction behind them But
these are mere declarations Of intent,
and not Of much more value than SINH
lar Hague pledges. 1t is, Of course, of
some use 10 publish good resolutions, but
thoge who believe the war will have
failed in realizing it's main purpose if
peace Is not effectively guaranteed want
more than an expression Of pious hopes
On the colony question the President