Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-02
COVENANT
.CHANCE
in FAVOR
AT PARIS
Americans Endorse Idea Of
Signing Treaty With
Reservation Protecting
Monroe Doctrine.

WUIiIUc DUClI tItCs
Paris, April 1.-Commenting on
the six amendments to the cove
nant- of the league of nations sug-
gested by Elihu Root, it was stated
today by one of the legal special
lists associated with the American
peace conference delegation that he
believed all the amendments were
acceptable to the American delga
ton.
The suggestion that the American
representatives sign the covenant
with the reservation that the United
States does not relinquish its tradi
tional attitude toward purely Amer
lean questions is apparently regard
ed with considerable favor in Aineri-
can official circles. The delegates
also are well impressed by the pro-
posed amendment providing for the
revision of the convention within
not less than five years nor more
than 10 years.
Amendments Carefully Considered.
The suggestion for the signature
of the covenant by the United States
with reservations designed to insure
the safety of the Monroe doctrine
and safeguard American immigra-
ton laws, it was pointed out, in
wolves no new procedure, as the res
ervations would be somewhat SINH
lar to thise with which the Algici
ras treaty was signed.
Mr.. Roots six proposed amend
ments to the covenant were in the
hands of the American peace dele
cation for several days before they
were published in the United States.
They had been carefully considered
by the delegates, who expressed
their appreciation of this definite
and constructive criticism.
Several of the Root suggestions
are believed by delegates to be Gov
cred by the covenant as it now
stands in it. amended form.
Socialists Present Suggestions.
Lord Robert Cecil, the British au-
thority on league OF nations. TODAY
met a committee from the inte'rs-
tional socialist conference. recertly
held in Berne, and received various
amendments, which the members of
the committee de ired to be Included
in the covenant ii the league of I'D
tons.
The committee was composed u
Arthur Henderson, G. H. Stuart
Burning and ]. Ramsey Macdonald.
for Great Britain; Jean Longuet and
Pierre Renaudel, for France; Hja.-
mar Branting, for Sweden. aid ca
mile Huysmans, for Belgium. Tae
committee claimed to speak for the
socialists of 26 countries, represent
ed at the Berne congress.
Among the principal amendments
that the socialists proposed was tie
introduction of provision facilitai-
ing the entry into the league AS soon
as possible of Germany and Russia
which they believed to be essential
to disarmament, and the prevention
of the spread of anarchy
To this Lord Robert replied that
it was impossible to Admit states
without stable governments. Tie
committee proposed the supervisors
| of disarmament, to which Lord
| Robert replied by giving the reasons
which had led the league OF natlofs
commission to reject proposal fer
the continuous international .aspee-
ton of ornaments.
Advocate Election of Delegates.
The committe also had proposals
respecting the method of choosing
delegates to the league, expressing
the belief that nomination by the
governments would not be represen-
tative. They said they preferred the
elective system. Lord Robert ex-
planed that this question was for
the various states to decide them
selves.
Regarding war, the committee
thought that sts should be totally
abolished except where the league
| ltSslI Illdue WAL 10 enforce ltS man
dates. Lord Robert agreed in prin.
ciple, but thought that the world has
not yet attained the development n
make it practicable and possible.
Other points presented were the
belief that mandates should be dc
fined in detail before territory was
handed over to a mandatory gov
ernment and that no mandates
should be given until all nations had
been admitted to the league.
In reply, Lord Robert said he be-
lieved that all mandates would be de-
fined in special treaties before the
mandatory power undertook its
functions of government, but dwet
upon the necessity for the appoint
ment of mandates, in many cases, as
soon as possible.
lhe committee expressed the de-
sire that the league undertake the
distribution OF raw materials in or
der TO prevent economic inequality
and finally voiced the hope tlMs