The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-30

" OIL cases soma sfofnps Jos thot psSposo'
TELEPHONE, BEEKMAN ZOO.
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An UnaeeOuntsble Omission In the
Presidents Explanatory Remarks.
What purports to be the full text
Of the Presidents latest speech was
telegraphed from Paris by the Asso-
ciated Press and printed In America
yesterday. We refer to the address
in which Mr.. WILSON undertook to
explain to the conference, specifically
and sometimes even in minute detail,
the changes In the league covenant
and their significance.
Yet THE SUN observes with amaze
ment that concerning the most I'm
portant change of all, the proposed
and adopted amendment mentioning
the Monroe Doctrine by name and
falsely and fraudulently describing 1t.
the President uttered not single
word Of Interpretation or comment.
Article XXI. Is new" Is all no had
to say on tho subject.
This IL the article which speaks OF
the Monroe Doctrine as a regional
understanding for securing the main.
tenance of peace; something 1t never
was, IL not now and never will be.
No other provision In the proposed
covenant Is so much in need Of clear
definition by the lips Of authority.
The President passed 1t over in 81.
lsnce, while dwelling more or less
deliberately upon some Of the minutie
Of League organization and admins
tration. And when he had expressed
his view Of provisions. "some consider.
able, the rest trivial" he deliberately
ignored the astounding hiatus In his
explanation with the remark, These
are all the changes, believe, Of
moment"
All the changes Of moment! We
venture the opinion that both In the
Senate and before the American peo-
pie the acceptability Of the new draft
Of President WILSON'S covenant will
depend as much upon Article XXI.
neglected by him in his explanatory
remarks. as upon any other feature
Of the document. The manner In
which our continued adherence to the
traditional American policy Is ex-
pressed by the United States and IN.
derstood by the other parties to the
covenant Is not merely important, It
Is nothing short Of vital.
Does the casual mention of the
Monroe Doctrine in Article XXI. as
n regional understanding for secur-
ing the maintenance Of peace" an I'M
dersta nding there classified with sin
ternational engagements such as
treaties Of arbitration" constitute a
full recognition by the contracting
Towers of our right and purpose to
safeguard the Arm American tadl-
ton and practice In their entirety ?
Does Article XXI. make the League
Council the Judge Of what the Monroe
Doctrine Is and how 1t shall be ap-
piled, or leave us, as before, the indie
pendent and untrammelled interpre-
tiers Of Its meaning and applica ton
Is the perfunctory insertion Of the
two words In the amended covenant
anything more than a trick Of hum
buggery to placate opposition where
opposition may be fatal to the gen
eral project to which the President
seems determined to subordinate
every other consideration If. on the
other hand. Article XXI. means all
that Il ought to mean: and II tbs
reluctant consent of other parties to
its introduction in the covenant was
procured by a process of bargain ant
compromise. what IL the equivalent
concession which the President has
offered at PARISH
How far the Monroe Doctrine hal
now shrunk In President WILSON'S
hands after recent manipulations II
known to himself alone, and he ha,
not vOuchsafed to the Senate or ths
country even a glimmering OF knowl
edge. He was dumb on the subject
when standing in the conference anc
processing to explain the altera
lions In the covenant. To the dis
tant eye It seems that the Doctrin,
has shrunk marvellously. It's pres
ent anemic aspect Is in startling con
trast with the amendment suggested
by ELIHU Roor Just one month age
tomorrow; and yet Article XXI. II
exhibited by the advocates Of a Leagu,
at any price as the fruit Of Mr.. Ro0r',
suggestion. The doctrines diminutior
in volume and IN blood supply Is ap
palling II we put II alongside tht
figure II presented to American prid,
and patriotism when our Senate
attached II to the conventions Of The
Hague. or when our Senate cleeri,