Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-31

, Vised the former cabinet member
and Senator that citizens in the Re-
publican ranks, determined to do
all that can possibly be done toward
the maintenance of peace without
sacrificing our own supreme nation
alism," and seeking the best judg-
ment' to aid them in reaching Il
conclusion, would appreciate a study
of the covenant from Mr.. Root.
Mr.. Root proposed that the Mon
roe doctrine-"the United States
traditional attitude toward purely
American questions be withdrawn
from decisions or recommendation
of other powers" in a paragraph in
serted in the league constitution inn
mediately before the signature OF
the American delegates. He based
this suggestion upon Americas con-
templated entrance into the league.
not because of any need of Old
World aid in preserving peace in the
western hemisphere, but in compli-
ance with the request of the peace
able nations" of Europe that the
United States place its power and
influence behind theirs to lessen the
possibility of wars lin their part of
the world" Without such an amend
ment, he Contended, surrender of
the Monroe doctrine is inevitable"
under the terms of the covenant.
The leagues provision for COM
pulsory international conferences on
political questions in times of dan
ger was clasSed by the former Sec
retary as "a great step forward" "
But the scheme was not carried far
enough, he said. 1T should not
merely suggest, but compel arbitra-
ton of all justiciable questions, in
Cluding those affecting honor and
excluding only those of policy or
politics. He added that the drafterS
of the league plan, in leaving to dis
putants the privilege of submitting
to arbitration questions which they
recognize as suitable for submis-
sion" had set the entire subject of
arbitration" back where it was 25
years ago
Instead of perfecting and put
ting teeth into the system of arbi-
tration provided for by the Hague
convention" he stated, they have
thrown those conventions upon the
scrap heap" He cited the efforts of
the Grant Arthur Harrison, CleVe-
/ land, Mckinley, Roosevelt and Taft
administrations to advance the cause
of arbitration, and confessed he
could not without protest see the
judgment of three generations of the
wiSest and best of American states
men, conCurred in by the wisest and
best of our allies, thus held for
naught.'
Along with compulsory arbitra-
ton, Mr.. Root urged adoption of the
suggestion of Leon Bourgeois of the
French peace delegation, that the
league be given powers of inspec-
ton and VeritiCation to make effec-
tive the proposed general agreement
for reduction of armaments to the
lowest point consistent with the ma
tional safety of each member.
Without a weapon such as this, he
claimed the disarmament commits
sion would be helpless against some
nations whose public officers would
regard it as a duty to conceal and
mislead."
Keep Laws Up to Date
The former Senator advocated
definite arrangements N the cove
nant for keeping international law
up to date and for revision of the
instrument itself, by provision for a
conference of the Signatory powers
on the former subject within two to
five years, and on the latter ques-
ton five to ten years hence. One
of the leagues weaknesses, in its
present draft. he declared. was its
failure to assure perpetuation of the
progress of present and past genera
tions in the development and appli-