The sun., 1919-03-20

basis of all peace, therefore we must be
as careful as possible 10 remove all
chances of dtsagreemeht arising out OF
conflicting interpretations of language.
AS 1 have said, my first constructive
criticism Ia that we should nave a re-
vision Of the language and form Of the
draft. t.,., ANN,
Now. in discussing tho draft OF the
league ! can only deal with the most
important points To -analyze those ar
ticles of that league as they should be
analysed would take many hours. But
/ will speak of one point which runs all
through it--one objection as 1t seems to
me which runs all through II, and that
Ia that there are so many places where
It says that the executive council--which
Ia the real seat OF authority-shall
recommend. or advise or propose meas
ures. and It fails to say by what vote
they shall do r. There are one or two
places where Il is stated there shall be
a two-thirds vote: another case where
It shall be unanimous. but In most cases
II Is not stated.
should BE Made Clear.
Either there should be a clause in
there saying where. not otherwise stated.
the decision OF the executive council
shall be by a majority vote, or else II
ought 70 be expressed In every article
where the council 10 called upon to make
a recommendation. or a proposal or a
decision Of any kind.
"Mr. Taft said on the It'll OF March:
Undoubtedly the covenant needs
revision. 1t Is not symmetrtcaliy ar
p ranged, its meaning haste be dug
out, and the language Is ponderous
and in DIPLOMATIC patois'
" have said nothing about the draft
as severe or as well put and as thor
oughly descriptive as that.
Lately the phrase has been much
used, especially when an answer was not
very easy. that criticism must be con-
structive not destructive. 1t was a con-
venient way OF answering awkward
questions and evidently those who use
1t freely have never stopped to think
cism must be constructive as well as
destructive and some where 1t must be
destructive alone. -.. .sr.4.r... ...-
For instance. in discussing slavery
We criticlse 1t In order to kill Il, and
we do not expect that a substitute shall
be offered for II. II burglar breaks
into my house and threatens the life OF
my wife and children should try II
could to shoot him. That In destructive
criticism and should not think II nee
essary TO proceed with a proposition
that he should engage in some other and
less dangerous occupation.
Now this 10 a case whore constructive
criticism il clearly needed. and my first
constructive criticism Is that this league
ought to be reirafted and put in Ian
guage that everybody can understand.
by doing that you will remove at
once many causes Of difference and dis
putes. and you want the instrument %
diminish disputes. increase harmony, be-
cause its purpose 10 to promote peace.
Another point which applies not only to
the necessity OF clear and definite lam
guage in the great instrument but to the
whole treaty. or to any treaty or any
alliance or league that we make. 10 30
remember this-that the sanctity OF
treaties Is above everything else impor-
tant. Whatever a country agrees TO do
the country must do.
Can't Change Geography.
Human nature, you may say. has
changed. When you study the history
Of the past as far as we have history
there Is a curious similarity in II at all
stages But one thing Is certain: not
even the wisest and most optimistic OF
reformers can change the geography OF
the globe.
They say communication has quick
ened enormously. The Atlantic ocean Is
not now a barrier. or the Pacific either.
suppose. But do not forget that even
under modern conditions the little chan
mel only twenty miles wide was Eng
lands bulwark and defence In this last
war. Do not underrato the three thou
sand miles OF Atlantic. It was on that
that the Monroe Doctrine. the corollsry
Of Washington's policy. rested.
Great systems of morality and phil
losophy have been taught and preached
/ 1000, 2,500, 1000 years ago. They may
be wrong. Put they are not transient
because they rest upon the eternal veri.
ties. And when you come 10 discard a
policy like that II is well to realize what
you are abandoning and what its Inn
I portanCs gan
| Again let me quote from Mr. Taft
He says speaking OF ambiguous phrases:
"one OF these. for instance, is in
respect to the executive council VIII
1t need a unanimous vote or will a
majority vote be sufficient where
there Is no specification
That puts the point extremely well
and I think there should he another
change. l offer that as a second con.
structiye criticism.
81 now come TO what means to ms
a very vital point indeed and that Is tn.
Monroe Doctrine. ! shall not undertake
10 trace the history OF the doctrine o,
OF Its development since Mr.. Monrot
first delivered II. But in it's essence II
rests upon this proposition of separating
the Americas from Europe in all mat.
ters political.
1T rests on the differentiation OF the
American hemisphere from Europe. AND
therefore | have found II difficut tc
understand an argument first advanced
with more confidence perhaps than 1t II
now--that we preserve the Monroe Doc
trine by extending II. The Monroe Doc
trne was the invisible line that we drew
around the American, hemisphere. II wal
the fence that we put around to OK
clude other nations from rneddling Il
American affairs. and / have never beet
able 10 get II through my head how vol
can preserve fence by taking it down
<Not a Tran.cient Policy.
1.-THE Monroe Doctrine Ia the coroliar,
OF washlnstons foreign policy declared
IN the farewell address. ] am not goini
TO base any argument upon IT, but IL 1
a mistake to consider the policy lai,
down by WashiAston and Monroe a
j ephemeral and necessarily transient, A