The sun., 1919-03-31
SIX
CHANGES IN LEAGUE


mesa II WIS to give an opportunity
for such discussion that tho paper was
reported TO the Paris Conference and
made pubiic b. the committee that pre-
pared it
AT the time Of the report, Lord
Robert Cecil, who represented Great
Britain in the committee. said: Y re-
.oice very much that the course which
has been taken this afternoon has been
pursued. 1t seems to me a good omen
for the great project in which we are
engaged that before its hnal completion
II should have been published to the
world and laid before all its people for
their service and for their criticism.
"Signor Orlando, who represented
Italy, said: We all expect from the dis
euesion and development Of the present
act renewal of the whole world, hut.
as the present debate has for its object
20 bring the whole scheme before the
public opinion of the world, I wish TO
bring to that debate my personal con-
tribution.'
m. Leon Bourgeois. who represented
France in the committee. said: Lord
Robert Cecil has said. We now present
TO the conference and to the world the
cent II as something that is final, but
only as the result OF an honest effort 10
be discussed and TO he examined not
only by this conference. but the public
opinion of the world
"At that very time NJ. Bourgeois sug-
rested an amendment about which /
shall say something presently, and he
went on to cay: The observations We
have made on some points will. we hope.
~ - l.. ,-aL
efons. since we are at the beginning Of
the examination OF the whole plan
Public Discussion Desired.
s.rhese gentlemen represented all the
great ALLIES by whose side We have been
fighting In Europe, and 1t Is plain that
they expected and wished that the
scheme which they had reported should
be subjected to public discussion and
criticism in their own countries and In
ours. 1t is also plain that they saw no
reason why the proposed agreement
should be rushed through in such haste
that there would not be an opportunity
for public discussion and criticism and
for communicating the results to the
conference
Under our Constitution It Is the busl-
ness OF the Senate to take the lead in
such q discussion, to compare the diff
ferent opinions expressed in the several
States and to draft in proper form the
amendments which the public Judgment
seems to call for. 1t is unfortunate
that the Senate has not been permitted
to perform that duty in this case. 1t
seems TO me that the Senate ought to
have been convened for that purpose
Immediately after the 4th OF March. In
addition to the regular and extra ees-
gions of Congress the Senate has been
convened separately in special session
forty-two times since 1t was first or
ganised, ordinarily to confirm few
appointments or pass on unimportant
treaties. never for any reason more
important than exists now.
There 10 q special reason why the
senate should consider this proposed
agreement Ordinarily treaties are ne
Gotiated by ambassadors, ministers. or
delegates, and their work Is supervised
and corrected II need be by the Presi-
dent and Secretary Of State at Wash
tngton, who from their different points
of view frequently see things the actual
negotiators overlook. In this case. since
the President himself Is negotiating the
treaty In Paris. there Is no one in Wash
ington to supervise the negotiation. and
there is no one with authority to give
. tho negotiators the benefit of indepen-
dent Official judgment, unless the Senate
30 TO perform that function.
''This situation throws upon the peo-
pie OF the country the duty to answer
the expectations OF the conference by
studying and discussing and expressing
their opinions on the various provisions
of the proposed agreement. and to make
their expressions OF opinion heard the
Lest way they can.
1.-THE avowed object Of the agreement
10 to prevent future wars. That i!
what interests US. We are not trying tc
get anything for ourselves from thu
any help from the other nations whC
are in the conference. but We woult
like to do our part toward preventing
future wars How does the proposed
scheme undertake to do that?
ITO answer that question one mus
call to mind the conditions to which
the scheme is to be applied.
Causes of War.
distinct classes. Fl
"One class consists OF controversies
about rights under the law of nation
and under treaties. In a general wa.
these are described a 8 justiciable or ju
dfcial questions. They are similar {,
the questions between individuals whicl
courts are ali the time deciding. The,
cover Dy lHo "
questions upon which. controversies be
tween nations arise.
For more than half a century tn
American Government has been urgin
upon the world the settlement of a.
such questions by arbitration. Presi
dents Grant, Arthur. Harrison. Cleve
land, Mckinley. Roosevelt and TAT
strongly approved the establishment @
system of arbitration in their mes
sages to Congress. Thirty years az
our Congress adopted a resolution re
ouesting the President TO invite negc
tiations with every other Governmer
to the and that any differences or di;
rutes arising between the two Cover
ments which cannot be adjusted by dir
lomatic agency may be referred TO arb
tration and be ,peaceably adjusted b
such means
president Mckinley IN his first ir
augural declared: The adjustment {
difficulties by judicial methods ratht
than force OF arms has been recognize
az the leading feature OF our foreig
policy throughout our entire nations
history
I'VE have illustrated the benefits Z
this method of settling disputes by Il
Alabama arbitration in 1872, the B
ring Sea arbitration IN 1893. the Alasl
boundary tribunal in 1908. the, Mort
Atlantic fisheries arbitration in 1910.
THE two great International confe
snces at The Hague In 1899 and In 19t
established a permanent court OF arb
tration and rules Of procedure. The
aiao made great progress In aBreeir