The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-13
LEAGUE COVENANT
YIELDS TO CRITICS
Important Changes in Inter-
national Compact Noted
at Capital.
NATIONS STILL SOVEREIGN
Congress Retains Right to
Limit Military Operations of
Troops in Foreign Countries.

WASHINGTON, April 12.--The Official
summary OF the amended covenant Of
the League Of Nations was received In
Washington tonight too late for on
cials and members Of Congress to study
II for formal comment. 1t was apparent,
however, that important changes In the
original document were designed to meet
criticisms made on the floor of the Sem
ate and elsewhere by friendly critics as
well as opponents of the league.
1t was pointed out that 1t was difficult
to make a comparison Of the Official
summary Of the new covenant issued at
Paris with the original constitution, since
It was possible to tell only what new
matter had been injected and not how
much or the old language had been re-
tanned, particularly In regard to rela-
lively minor points
Aside from tho amendment specifically
mentioning the Monroe Doctrine as
ameHg regional understandings" not
affected by the covenant. the change
which seemed to attract the most at
tention here was that requiring a unan-
imous vote In both the assembly of
States and the governing executive
council In any decision upon a matter
of international interest or threatening
the peace Of the world" n the original
unanimous consent was required except
ing the parties to q dispute. This ap-
parently was Intended to make 1t clear
that no nation surrendered its sover-
eighty or right Of individual action
through membership In the league
Another change in a section much
discussed In the Senate debate requires
the approval Of each member State of
recommendations of the council as to
the amount Of armed force. IL any, to be
supplied by those States to act on behalf
OF the league In moving against a State
which has broken the covenant. Oppo-
nents OF the constitution as originally
drawn insisted that this section took
away from Congress the power TO de-
clare war and might force the United
States to send its soldiers or sailors
into battle in some far Off corner OF the
earth for a cause In which the country
was not interested.
The same kind Of a change was made
In the sections relating to disarmament
and the administration of mandates over
tho former German colonies and terri
tories of the Ottoman empire. 1t is
specifically provided that suggestions of
the council for reduction of ornaments
shall be adopted only with the consent
of the affected States themselves. Pro-
vision Is made for manufactures by States
which are willing" to be manufactures.
The right is given any State to with
draw from the league on two years
notice. provided such State has kept
it's obligations to date" The failure Of
the first draft to make any provision
for withdrawal from the league has been
the subject of much discussion.
Amendments to the covenant under
the new draft require the approval OF
all States of the council-the Ave great
Powers and four other nations TO be Sc
| lected and "a simple majority In the as
sembly," which is composed of all rep
resentatives of all member States. Orig
inally three-fourths majority was re-
quired In the assembly.
Another addition sets forth that the
number of Powers of each class repre-