Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-19
N G OF A DOCTRINE

The full meaning of the proposed covenant Tor q
league of nations is now being absorbed by people on all
continents, and the arguments and counter-arguments
advanced during the discussions in the special commit
tee Nf the Paris peace congress are being repeated on a
much vaster scale. While the world tries to grasp the
whole significance of the twenty-six articles of the docu-
ment, its author sails serenely the high seas, thinking.
no doubt, of what he shall have to say to the American
people when he comes home. That he anticipated a
sharp exchange Of views, is evident from the fact that
he had cabled each member of the senate foreign rela-
tons committee and of the house foreign affairs commit
tee to abstain from discussing the league problem until
he had "been permitted to SO over with them article by
article Of the constitution before this part of the work
of the conference is made the subject of debate in con-
gress."
But in spite of the request, we already have reports
of how congressman differ in their views, and Senator
Borah has Enthusiastically expressed his opposition even
to the point that he does not care to hear what the presi-
dent has to confide to congressman before a public de-
bate can be prccipitated. for, he thinks, by receiving
sueh confidence he would feel bound by his sense OF
honor to reveal nothing Of the purport of the informa-
ton given, and he does not think it is worth while.
1t cannot be said that the reading of the covenant
has inspired general enthusiasm in this country, and the
president Of Columbia university, DR.. Nicholas Murray
Butler, even denounces it as a clumsy piece of work
manship." But any really detailed analysis has not been
forthcoming. The universal point criticized is that the
American participation in the forming of an interna-
tional league would virtually mean the abolition of the
Monroe doctrine and the surrender of certain treasured
national rights and privileges. Even among President
Wilson's own political and personal friends there is con-
siderable anxiety lest the dangers of the new world doc
trine be so formidable as to mean in effect that this
country will sacrifice valuable ingredients of its tradi-
tional independence.
Corresponding fears have been expressed In other
countries-as it was but natural to expect. But in all
fairness to the thoughtful men who have gone over the
intricate phases of a unique situation it should be said
that criticism to be of any value must rest on a study of
the document and the circumstances Of which it is a
product-a study at least as exhaustive as that of the
men who formulated the pact.
Undoubtedly the president will amplify his explana-
ton of the covenant. When he spoke in Paris the other
day. it was to the world at large. Returning to his own
country he most certainly will have a quite special mes
sage to give, and it is worth While to await that explana-
ton before condemning or praising the plan with any
show of undue exaggeration. A clear exposition Of all
the matters involved, and a thorough discussion Of each
separate point will give a satisfactory basis for forming
final comments on what is really development without
precedent in the history of the world.