The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-02

Body of Delegates in the instrument
bestows roughly three broad powers,
first. to entertain reports made by any
OF tho High Contracting Parties Of
circumstances affecting international In
! tercoprse which threaten to disturb in
| ternational peace or tho good under
standing between nations upon which
peace depends; second, to take juris-
diction OF a dispute not settled by arbl-
tration which Is referred to II by either
party thereto or by the Executive Coun-
Gil providing this reference Is made
within fourteen days after the dispute
is submitted to the Executive Council.
] in respect of which reference the Body
Of Delegates has the same actions and
powers concerning the dispute as would
the Executive Council. IL 1t continued to
entertain Jurisdiction; and third, to ad-
wise the reconsideration by members OF
the League of those treaties which have
become inapplicable and of international
conditions OF which the continuance may
endanger the peace of the world. The
Body Of Delegates is also ultimately to
choose the four other states not named
| in the document. who shall be repre-
sented on the Executive Council, and
| is also to vote on the admission to the
League Of certain outcast states to be
noted later.
Some Important Omissions.
But tho document contains no pro-
visions whatever regarding the appoint
ment, removal. compensation. or tenure
| OF these representatives who are to ex-
ercise these powers. Neither Is there
any provision covering the organization
Of the body or how It shall vote or
function, nor what number of states or
| delegates constitute n quorum for doing
| business. whether distinctions shall be
made as to the number necessary to
| transact different kinds of business. be-
! yond the provision OF Article 4. which
/ puts matters of procedure and the APP
point.nent OF committees into the hands
| OF ma jority OF the states represented
! at the meeting
40 Executive Council:
THE executive council is to be made
I'D OF representatives OF the British EN-
pire, France. Italy, Japan and the
| United States, and of four other States
to be selected by the body of delegates
on such principles and in such manner
as they think fit,' that Is nine States
In all.
The Jurisdiction II this superbody,
thus made up OF representatives Of nine
out of the half hundred States, more
or less, which compose the world. is
| stated to be any matter within the
sphere of action OF the league or af-
! fecting the peace q the world But
| in addition TO this general grant OF
/ Jurisdiction certain specific powers are
! bestowed. the more important of which
may be stated in general terms as fol-
lows:
Making plans for the disarma ment OF
! the world, determining what Is fair and
reasonable military equipment and
! armament for each nation. and de-
Gliding regarding any increase In
armament OF any power: formulating
plans to cure the evils OF private man.
ufacture OF munitions OF war: devising
means for fulfilling the obligations to
preserve az necessary by armed force)
| the territorial integrity and existing po-
| iitical independence OF all States mem
bers of the league against external az
gression sitting in judgment on and
! making recommendations regarding any
dispute whatsoever arising between the
| high contracting parties: proposing steps
for the enforcement OF arbitral awards
formulating plans for establishing a per-
manent court OF international Justice pro-
posing mea sures nece ssary to give efrect TO
their own recommendations recommend
| ing what effective military or naval
forces each member of the league shall
contribute TO protect the covenants OF
the league. seemingly, not only against
league but montague members. that Is,
as a practical matter. the power to de-
clare war; determining the conditions
upon which non-members may assume
the obligations OF the league for the
purpose OF any particular dispute and
! examining and making recommendations
! concerning any dispute which may arise
between members OF the league and non
members or among non-members them
| selves taking such action and making
such recommendation as will prevent
hostilities between two non-member dis
putting States who have declined to &C
! cept the obligations of membership in
the league for the purpose of dispute
! and defining In a special act or charter
the degree OF authority. control or sd-
ministration to be exercised by the man
| datory State over the colony or terri
tory placed under It's protection
vital Matters Ignored.
OBVIOUSLY. as already suggested. this
| Ia the real governing body OF the league,
vet such essential matters as what shall
| be the number of representatives from
each State. who shall Ak the number
|
equal number OF representatives, what
shall be the manner OF organization
| and OF voting. are not stated in the
document Neither does the document
provide for the appointment, removal
| compensation or tenure OF these repre-
sentatives, though the document pro-
vides that procedure Mt the meetings
OF the council. including the appoint
ment OF committees to investigate par
ticular matters. Is to be regulated by
the council and may be decided by a
majority OF the States represented at
the meeting Who shall call the meet
ings. except the first, how many States
or representatives shall constitute a
quorum. what. II any, matters would re
qu.re more than n majority vote, and
all other vital matters connected with
! the deliberations of this world ruling
body are entirely unprovlded for. And
yet. this is the body which is hereafter
to determine whether We. the people
OF the United States. shall go to war.
and what our participation therein shall
be.
Nor are these all the defects OF the
instrument In respect OF the operations
OF the executive council. There are alb
solutely no principles, rules. or regu-
! lations laid down in the covenant by
which this rld-governing body Is to
be guided. II makes it's own principles
rules and regulations: It hales before II
every power. whether league member or
not who II believes has violated any
such principle, rule or regulation II
sits as court to determine whether
| yin Att IIx, raA .