The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1919-04-16
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10. 1910
THE REVISED COVENANT

CrltlClSm or the ParlS covenant Ol
a league of nations has been fruitful
of good. The summary of the revised
covenant contains almost all of the
changes which have been suggested
in opposition to acceptance of the
original document, and all are evil
IDENTIFY made in order to conciliate
American opinion.
The Monroe Doctrine is distinctly
recognized. So also are arbitration
treaties which have been made to pre-
serve peace. No nation may be given
a mandate to administer a backward
country without its consent. Any ma
ton may withdraw from the league on
two years notice after fulfilling all
its engagements as a member.
Some of the most severe structures
on the covenant have been provoked
by its alleged impairment Of national
sovereignty. IT has been said that in
certain contingencies the power to de-
clare war would be taken from con-
gress and would be vested in the
league council, on which the United
States would have only one of nine
votes. 1t has also been said that the
section regarding armament would
deprice congress of power to decide
what military force we should main
tain and would permit agents of for
eign powers to come to this country
and investigate our ornaments and
munition factories AS the dispatch
reads, those objections are met by re-
quiring that decisions on matters ''of
International interest or affecting the
peace OF the world shall be unani-
nous without excepting the nations
interested and by requiring the con-
sent of the nations concerned to sug
gestion for reduction of armaments. /.
Apparently the unanimous vote OF the
council on suggestion for settlement
of a dispute must also include both
disputing nations, which would give
the loser a vote on its own case. But
that nation would be pledged not to
enforce its claim by war on pain OF
attack by all league members. Upon
this point further news will be await |
ed with interest
There is room for question here
whether American sovereignty is not
protected at the risk of success OF
the league. The object being to pre-
vent war, and, after all other means |
have failed, to make war on nation l
which fights in defiance of the league.
il is necessary that when the contem-
plated contingency arises, war shall
be the certain penalty. 1t is newt
able that each nation shall be bound .
to do its part, and that, to that ex-
tent, it's sovereignty be abridged. The
relative positions of nations will be
unchanged, however, for the sover-
eighty of all nations will be abridged
in the same proportion. This is true
also as TO reduction of armaments.
The most important amendments
in the covenant appear to have been
made in order to clear the way for
ratification by the senate. This is
an evidence of the high estimation in
which the adhesion of this country is
held by the allies. They are in dire
need of this countrys help in settling
the affairs of the old world and in
keeping them settled. This nation has
prospered far more than it has lost in
the war, and alone among the great
belligerents, is in position to restore
the mental balance Of the world, for
it alone has kept it's balance, free
from the nerve-racking that verges on
hysteria which other nations, have
suffered. BY joining the league and
by doing more than our full share of
it's work, we can help Europe back
into orderly courses, and can save
ourselves from the perils of renewal
of war.
1t is to be hoped that the points
obscure will be cleared, and that the
changes win prove not to have i'm
paired its effectiveness. Where the
amendments are clear, they have
strengthened it and have made Amer !
ican interests secure. Senators should
prepare their minds to consider it
fayarahlY remem herring that the