The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-04-04
ktV|5ED COVENANT
IS ALMOST READY
AMENDMENT RELATING TO MON
ROE DOCTRINE is OMITTED
FROM CONSTITUTION
EQUAL SUFFRAGE APPROVED
Racial Provisions Put Forward by
Japanese Delegates Have Not Been
incorporated in First Draft
of Agreeemnt


of Agreeemnt
Paris, March 29-The American
amendment concerning the Monroe
doctrine and the Japanese racia
amendment were not included in the
covenant of the league of nations as
$, at to the drafting committee yester
day. The amendments may be Offered
later at plenary session of the peace
conference or before the council of 10
Woman suffrage is recognized in
1.-The covenant of the league through the
adoption of an amendment providing
that the offices of the league shall be
open to women as well as to men.
Another amendment provides that no
state can withdraw from the league
without two years notice.
Paris. March 29-COntaining neither
any reference to the Monroe doctrine
nor to the Japanese proposal for recog-
milton of the racial equality of nations,
the draft of the covenant of the league
of nations is in the hands of the spe-
cial drafting committee.
The draft was completed at a sit
ting of the full commission and the
covenant is expected TO be ready in
completed form early next week. The
two amendments around which has
centered the greatest interest and
much divergence of opinion, however,
may he offered either in the council
of 10 or to the plenary peace CON
ference, to which the covenant must
go for final action.
Among other amendments adopted
was one directly recognizing the prin-
ciple of woman suffrage. in that
it provides for the offices of the
league being open to women as well as
to men.
The much discussed question as to
the policy of the. withdrawal from
membership in the league of nations
was settled by an amendment per-
hitting withdrawal on two years no.
tice. but not until such nation has
filled out its international obligations.
Article " of the covenant, to which
the Monroe doctrine amendment would
apply. stands in its original form,
President Wilson having reserved for
the present the amendment which had
been prepared as expressing the views
of the American delegation. 1t is now
explained that it was not the exact
text, but only the general form of the
which was given to the
press and that hence criticism must
be withheld for the present.
Careful soundings are being taken |
to ascertain the reception that is
likely to be given this amendment by !
other delegations. If unfriendly SEN
fiment develops or the pressing of |
other and obnoxious amendments is
as consequence of in |
sistence upon the Monroe doctrine, it |
is said the amendment may be alto
gether withheld.
Since the first mention of the de-
sire of the Japanese to secure an |
recognizing equality be-
fore the law for all nationals, of the
league of nation states in other cOun-
lFitS- the JuDdDeSt utitSittS nave iOl
pressed their amendment before the
itself. They have, how
ever, been canvassing the delegations
With various forms of amendments,
to find out the feeling to-
ward it.
They ran squarely into one reef when
Premier Hughes of Australia .declar
ID without qualification that tile Au
tralian delegation would not support
II stand in favor of any amendment
# any kind whatever containing the
japanese desires.
AS a matter of fact the japanese |
did not come before the
commission, but it is understood its
uthors have not abandoned the idea
t obtaining an expression of feeling
n it from the council of 10 and per-
APPS from the plenary peace confer /
nee itself.