Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-10
WHAT THE CLAUSES MEAN


MO RECOMMENDATIONS passed by
= the International labor office, set up
under the league of nations, will in any
way be binding upon the United States
unless this country chooses to accept
them.
1t is of vital Importance that this fact
be clearly understood, since public i'm
preston to the contrary would undoubt-
cdly be fatal to the ratification of the
peace treaty.
The labor clauses, the complete text
of which was published here for the first
time yesterday, outline an ambitious
reform program. Commendablc ideals
arc set forth and an elaborate machinery
is projected for considering labor condi-
tiOns internationally and suggesting
their betterment.
But, as with the American articles of
confederation, the coercivc principle is in
abeyance save in the case of violation by
any nation of a pledge of which volun-
tary acceptance is made.
Article 405 of the available text con-
tains these pregnant words:
If the draft convention fails to obtain
the consent of the authority or authorities
within whose competence the matter lies.
no further obligation shall rest unon the
member.
In the case ~ federal state. the
power Of which.t" enter into conventions
on labor matters is subject TO limitations.
it shall ho in the discretion of that gov
crnmcnt 10 treat q craft convention 20
which such limitations apply as Il recon-
mcndatiou only. and The provisions of this
article with respect TO recommendations
shall apply in such cases.
Federal state" clearly means the
United States, and .nus double guaran-
tee is given that tle league will be unable
to impair the sovereignty of this country
by interference in labor affairs unless of
our own free will nc become a party to
such actiO.I in every specific instance.
The pressure foreShadowed in the case
cf the infraction Of pledges is of a differ
ers complexion. If our constituted au-
contracted by our delegates to the inter-
national labor Office this country would
be bound by its wcyd precisely rs it
would be upon signing d treaty relative
to trade regulations or political frontiers.
The league of ndtioas Is en.povSred to
punish the offending ~ lion by economic
pressure or other ACTON reconne ended
by the governing labor body or Ene In
ternational High Court Of Justice.
The delegation Of such autho::fy to
the league makes it extremely unlikely
that the United States will ratify such
labor measures as may be suggested in
the international labor conventions.
Once adopted by us, abrogation or even
modification of them would result in
chastisemert and what would undoubt-
edly seem to be interference in our do
mestic affairs.
1t is unnecessary, however, toscontem-
plate such an event. This country is
under no obligation whatever TO pass
labor legislation conceived by an inter.
national body
AS the situation now stands, the labor
clauses Of the treaty reflect a praise
worthy spirit of humanity and a percep-
ton of the great and formidable role
which working men and women play in
the modern economic and social structure.
They are not binding unless partners in
the league choose of their own volition
to make them so with respect to them
selves.
Not shadow of sovereign rights will
be sacrificed in signing the treaty which
contains these idealistic labor provisions.
Any statement to the contrary is either
based on misinformation or deliberate
falsehood.