Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-29
SATURDAY. !. !. MARCH 20. 1919
TRIED TO pur SOMETHING OVER.

, Now we can begin to discuss the
proposed league of nations intelli-
gently.
We do not know what all the
amendments will be. but we do know
now that the Monroe doctrine is not
to be recognized in the constitution.
Also we know that. instead of being
able to withdraw at will, as President
Wilson insisted at the White House
conference, it is now stipulated that
a nation will not be permitted to with
draw from the league except after
having given a two-years notice.
What a fateful--maybe fatal-two
years that might be to Uncle Sam!
Because it was claimed by the Uni
ted States and the British colonies
that the Japanese doctrine of racial
equality in immigration was not in
corporated in the covenant, the Japs
insist that it shall be. They were told
when the first draft was published
that it provided for all Japan wanted,
just as the United States was told by
President Wilson that the Monroe
doctrine was safeguarded.
Japan insisted that the immigra-
ton provision should be definitely
stated, and the conference has refused
to do so, because the Australians and
Canadians and New Zealanders re-
fused to agree to it,
The senate of the United States has
served notice through Lodges resolu-
ton that 1t will not ratfy the
amendment unless the interests. of the
nation and its people are definitely
protected That protection must in
clude, of course, the Monroe doctrine.
President Wilson says in his state
ment, which was cabled from Paris
to the Journal Thursday, that criti-
cisms of the league covenant have
been wise, and he has presented an
insufficient amendment on the Mon
roe doctrine, and even that milk-and-
water provision has been rejected.
Why? n
Because the European powers and
Japan have no intention of recogniz
ing the Monroe doctrine, and. with
four to one or eight to one votes
in the government of the league. they
would make short work of the doc
trine itself.
Premier Hughes OF Australia, COM
menting on the proposed immigra-
ton clause, says in forceful state
ment:
Il cannot but regard the proposed
amendments as an effort to establish
a principle under which ultimately
some nations would find their internal
policies changed by the league at the
instigation of one of its members
But even more forcefully he says
in the same statement:
THE proposal means something or,
nothing. If nothing, then why insert
it? If something then surely this
something will not be achieved by
mere words. stopping for all time
short of action. If these words which
it Is desired to insert in the covenant
mean nothing, then the covenant itself
means nothfnggk
Premier Hughes IS very able man.
He is in Paris and member of the
peace conference. and he gave out
his statement while fully surrounded
by the atmosphere Of the league of
nations influence.
What he says regarding the immi-
grafton proposal applies in every word
to the Monroe doctrine.
More and more it is becoming APP
parent that the trainers of the pro-
posed constitution have purposed to
put something over while the people
of the United States were lulled to
sleep by the high-flown rhetoric of
the president.