Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-09-24
THE EXACT LANGUAGE


THE EXACT LANGUAGE
The best source Of information ~ to- what tho con-
stltutent Of the League of Nations contains Is the con-
stitutton Of the League. Of Nations contains is the con-
I'd. and has thus been made available to all who wished
to inspect 1t. Concerning what the United States may or
may not be required to do in certain cases. references may
DO made to the provisions Of the constitution which apply.
Where quotations are made the exact language Of the re-
vised constitution Is followed.
Article . provides-that tie action OF the League shall
be Effected through the: fundamentally Of two bodies, the
assembly and the council. In the next two articles 1t Is
provided that the assembly shall consist OF representa-
tives Of all member nations. each nation having one vote,
and that the council shall consist Of representatives Of
Eine powers. namely, the United States, Great Britain,
France. Italy. Japan. Belgium. Brazil. Spain and Greece,
each nation having one vote.
Article s provides that except where otherwise ez-
pressy provided, all action In either body shall be by un-
antmous vote. Express provisions for a majority vote are
made as indicated with reference to a number Of routine
matters Of procedure. ETC.. but the unanimous vote rule
applies to all important decisions.
Article 10 reads:
The members Of the League undertake to res
pect and preserve AS AGAINST EXTERNAL &c
erosion the territorial integrity and existing pol
iteal Independence Of all members Of the League.
In case OF ANY SUCH AGGRESSION, or in case Of
any threat or danger of SUCH AGGRESSION the
council shall advise upon the means by which this
obligation shall be fulfilled.
1t has been said that the league constitution in this
article places the world in a straight-jacket; that it guar
antess to each OF the dominant powers permanent pos
session OF the territory which 1t has occupied and per-
manent control Of the peoples whom it has subjected; and
that in signing tho treaty the United States will place its
armed forces unFeservedly at the disposal of any nation
which chooses to demand this service for the suppression
OF revolution among It's own people. What are the facts ?
Suppose tho people Of Alsace. of ireland, Of Sicily. or
Of India begin an insurrection, with the avowed purpose
Of separating themselves from the nation of which they
are q part and setting up an independent government of
their own. What would be the duty Of the United States
In such a case? Simply to mind her own business. She
would have agreed to respect and preserve F" = = "as
against external aggression" and there would be no ex-
ternal aggression In q case Of that kind.
But suppose THAI Bulgaria, after accepting the terms
Of peace. should violate the new serb-croat state. Then
Of external aggression which would come properly before
the council. It will be observed that the council is re-
CURED to advise upon the means which shall be taken.
The council has no authority to command. It is expected
to consider and recommend. It may decide that a re-
monstrance will suffice; that an economic boycott of Bull
garia would be desirable; or that the situation calls for
armed interference. But whatever its conclusions are. the
United States, being a member of the council, must con-
sur In them before they can even be registered and for
warded to the nations particularly interested.
Is It thinkable that the man selected by the United
States government TO represent it. on the council would
agree to a recommendation placing unjust and unreas-
abiA burdens on his own country? 1t is obvious that under
the provisions. Of the constitution. as set forth in its exact
language, no decision not in accord with right and reas-
on could be expected.