The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-08-13
ARTICLES V. VI and VII
VOTING Rules.

Procedure and the appointment Oh
committees in the assembly and the
council are to be decided by ma
iority vote, almost all other matters
reouire unanimity. The functions OF
these bodies being mainly discussion
the requirement Of a unanimous vote
on questions of procedure would en-
able one member to prevent any sub
iect from being debated; and IL 1t
were required for thG appointment oil
committees one member could pre-
vent gathering the information need
ed for Intelligent discussion
The object of demanding unanim-
lily for other matters was really to
still the alarm of people who did not
understand that the organs of the
league are given no substantial pow
or to direct the conduct of the mem
bers. But the provision is by no
means inconsistent with the principle
on which the League is based-that
Of automatic action by the members
specifically set forth in the covenant
itself and beyond this conference with
view to voluntary concerted action
by al 1.-THE members. For the last pur-
nose a unanimous vote is not inap-
propriate
The Automatic Principle.
It may be well to explain here more
precisely what is meant by automa-
tic action on the part of member of
the league. 1t denotes action that is
automatic so far as the league or its
organs are concerned, not in regard
TO the constitutional branches of its
own government. Under Article XVI,
for example, if one nation resorts to
war against another in disregard OF
it's covenants the other members of
the league agree Immediately to sub
jects it to the severance of all trade
and financial relations, and to pro
Aibit any intercourse between THEN
citizens and its citizens. This is au-
tomato in the sense that it is a di-
rect and immediate obligation, who'll
Iy independent of any action by any
organ of the league. II is not auto
matte in the sense that the severance
of relations takes place automatically
without any action by the govern
ments of the several members of the
league. Nor does it determine what
branch of a national goyernmen.
has power to put it into effect That
depends upon the constitution of the
nation. With us it would require leg
islation, and therefore action by con-
gress; but congress is under a nor
nal obligation like that imposed by
every treaty which pledges the good
faith of the nation to enact the leg
islation required
Permanent Secretaries
The league will need consid-
cradle body of men to carry on vol
luminous correspondence among the
members, to record the proceedings
of the different organs, to collect
such information as they may require,
and to assist the various committees
an dstanding commissions. In fact
the convenience of the representa-
tives, an dthe ease of working the
organization will be greatly promot-
ed by the efficiency of such a sec
retariat an dts chief. This is espe-
cially true because in popular gov
ernmetns and no others are expect
ed to be members of the league-the
uen who hold the high offices of
date change frequently, and hence
ho representatives in the council and
ssembly are not likely to remain
ong enough to be thoroughly familiar
with the details of previous transac-
tions, but must depend for much in
formation upon the secretariat
In order, therefore, to render eff
cient service the secretary general
and his subordinates should be per
manent. fully conversant with the his
tory and condition of international
relations, but not themselves politi-
cal persons. Their duty is to serve
the league, not to direct it; and in
view of the large influence that any
permanent expert, with the details of
a matter at his fingers ends, can ex-
ert over changing body of political
euperiors it is of the utmost import
ance that the secretariat should be as
free from bias and from political mo-
tives as possible; so that their OBJ
iect may be the success of the league
as an institution not the special in
ierest of any particular member If
rightly administered the secretariat
may well become one of the most i'm
portant and beneficial organs of the
league
Geneva Ideal Seat.