New-York tribune., 1919-08-13

British delegation took it upon them
selves to eplain Article XXI at some
length and this is what they said:
"'Article XXI makes it clear that the
covenant is not intended to Abrogate
or weaken any other agreements, so
long as they are consistent with it's
own terms, into which members Of the
league may have entered, or may here
after enter, for the assurance of peace.
Such agreements would include special
treaties for compulsory arbitration
and military conventions that are gen
timely defensive.
"'The Monroe Doctrine and similar
understandings are put in the same
category. They have shown themselves
IN history to be not Instruments of
national ambition, but guarantees Of
peace. The origin of the Monroe Doc
trlne is we'll known 1t was proclaimed
in 1923 to prevent America from be-
coming theatre for intrigues of Eu-
ropean absolutism. At first principle
OF American foreign policy, it has be-
come an international understanding,
and it is not illegitimate for the people
OF the United States to say that the
covenant should recognize that fact.
In Its essence it is consistent with
the spirit of the covenant, and, indeed,
the principles of the league, as ex-
pressed in Article x, represent the ex-
tension to the whole world of the prin-
ciples of the doctrine, while, should
any dispute as to the meaning of the
latter ever arise between the Ameri-
can and European powers, the league
is there to settle it,
The explanation of Great Britain
received the assent of France.
1T seems to me monumentally para
doxlcal and trifle infantie,' says M
Lausanne, the chief spokesman for M.
Olemenceau, to pretend the contrary
When the executive council of the
league of nations fixes the reasonable
limits OF the armament of Peru when
IT snail demand information concern
ing the naval programme of Brazil
(Artlcle VII of the covenant), when it
shall tell Argentina what shall be the
measure of the contribution to the
armed forces to protect the signatures
OF the social covenant (Article XVN.
when it shall demand the Immediate
registration of the treaty between the
united States and Canada at the seat
OF the league, it will control, whether
II wills or not, the destinies of America.
land when the American states
shall be obliged to take hand in eyery
Gle AD. they will necessarily fall afoul
OF the fundamental principle laid down
by Monroe.
., II the league takes in the world,
then Europe must mix in the affairs of
america; IT only Europe is included.
then America will violate of necessity
I1 her own doctrine by intermixing in
the affairs of Europe.'
One Mistake of Lausanne
=. The British statement that the
Monroe Doctrine under this article. if
any question arose in regard to it,
would be passed upon and interpreted
by the league of nations is absolutely
correct. The statement of M. Lausanne
is explicit and truthful, but he makes
one mistake. He says in substance
mat II we are to meddle in Europe
Europe can not be excluded from the
Americas. He overlooks the fact that
the Monroe Doctrine also says:
'Our policy in regard to Europe.
which was adopted at an early stage of
the wars which have so long agitated
that quarter of the globe, nevertheless
remains the same, which is not to in
terfere in the internal concerns of
any of the powers
The Monroe Doctrine was the corol-
larry Of Washington's neutrality policy
and OF his injunction against perma-
nent alliances. 1t reiterates and reaf-
trims the principle. We do not seek to
NEEDLE IN the affairs Of Europe but to
keep Europe out of the Americas. 1t is
as important to keep the United States
out of European affairs as to keep
Europe out of the Ame rican continents.
Let US maintain the Monroe Doctrine,
then, in it's 'entrcty, and not only pre-
serve our own safety but in this way
best promote the real peace Of the
world
A Regional Understanding
Let me now deal with the article
itself. We have here some protective
coioration again. The Monroe Doctrine
is described as regional understand
ing whatever that may mean. But the
Monroe Doctrine is no more a regional
understanding than it is an 'interna-
tional engagement The Monroe Doc
trine was a policy declared by Presi-
dent Monroe. Its immediate purpose
was to shut out Europe from interfer-
ing with the South American republics,
which the Holy Alliance designed to do.
No nation has ever formally recog-
nized it. 1t has been the subject of
reservation at international conven-
tions by American delegates. 1t has
never been regional understanding, ,
or an understanding Of any kind with
anybody.
"The instant that the United States,
which declared, interpreted and sus-
tanned the doctrine, ceases to be the
sole judge of what it means, that in
stant the Monroe Doctrine ceases and
disappears from history and from the
face Of the earth. In the interests of
the peace of the world it is now pro-
posed to wipe away this American
policy, which has been a bulwark and
d barrier for peace. Why, in the name
Of peace, should we extinguish it?
Why in the name of peace should we
be called upon to leave the interprets-
tlon OF the Monroe Doctrine to other
nations?
The Right of Withdrawal
"Another point in this covenant
where change must be made in order to
protect the safety Of the United
States in the future is in Article |.
where withdrawal is provided for.
This provision was an attempt to meet
the very general objection to the first
draft of the league, that there was no
means of getting out of it without de-
nouncing the treaty; that IL, there
was no arrangement for the with
drawal of any nation. As it now
stands it reads that
Any member of the league may,
after two years notice of it's inten-
ton to do so, withdraw from the
league, provided that all its inter
national obligations, and all its obli-
cations under this covenant, shall have
been fulfilled at the time of its with
drawal.'
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