The sun., 1919-03-20

/ bhohtVsb.
------.--.::
Of tho fourteen States on the COMMITTEES
intended that II the council should se-
lect their country as mandatory to take
charge OF Russia. It would be obliged
to accept seems to mo in the highest
degree improbable, ana the same thing
is true Of less difficult mandates. 1t
ID q general principle that in any docu-
ment an intention. not expressed and
in itself irrational, 10 not to be implied
No doubt a spirit Of fairness would pre-
vent nation, engaged with others in
common effort for human welfare.
from Sinking all burdens II has not ex-
pressly agreed to assume: but that IL q
very different thing from an obligation
to accept any burden that may be thrust
upon 1t. The matter should OF course
be made perfectly clear in the final
draft.
Calls Mandatory idea Good.
The principle OF manufactures seems
to me highly meritorious. II has,
understand. two objects. one to prevent
maltreatment OF the native population,
and the other 70 prevent a selfish monop-
oily Of products that may be essential
to tho industry and prosperity Of tho
world. For both these purposes there
is clearly q right OF collective super
vision and control. at least by all tho
nations that have taken part In the con-
quest Of the colonies and territories
cerned. If Germany and her allies
had not been beaten these possessions
would not have been permanently cap
tured; and every nation that helped
TO win the war helped to conquer them
Therefore we, as one of those nations
that helped TO acquire them. have a
right, and have no less a duty, TO see
that they are properly administered !;
and there Is no need OF making a bug
bear OF 1t.
The remaining functions of the Ex-
ecutive Council are OF somewhat rou-
tine character It regulates its own pro-
cedure Cart. w, chooses the secretary
general. whose duties are clerical Cart.
W; apparently 1t supervises the trade
in arms with the countries in which the
control OF the traffic is necessary in the
common interest CART XvIII); APP
points bureaus and committees with
advisory powers (Arts TX. XIX. Xxx,
and is to control international admins
trative bureaus. such as that Of the
Postal Union and the many others that
have since been established for common
convenience Cart. XXII).
1.-THE functions OF the body OF delegates
are still less extensive, consisting almost
entirely OF the discussion of matters
within the sphere of action OF the league.
The only cases apart from the regulation
of it's own procedure where 1t is given
power TO make binding decisions are the
selection of the four countries. which, In
addition to the five chief Powers, are TO
have seats In the Executive Council, and
the case where n matter in dispute be-
tween two States Is referred TO the body
for inquiry, IN which On Sc its recommen-
dalton has the same effect as IL made by
the Executive Council.
This analysis of tho plan for league
set forth in the covenant OF Paris shows
how closely It resembles the sketch OF
the minimum essentials OF such n league
In the opening of this address. 1t shows
also that the fear of n supersovereign
body, to which We are asked to sacrifice
our Independence. is the creation of an
overheated imagination. II we assume
that the covenant means what II says and
not something wholly different no organ
OF the league has any authority to give
commands to this country that need give
us a moments anxiety. The only sub
stantial powers that any such body is to
possess beyond making recommendations
which we may follow or not as we think
cision in an International dispute and
from the right to forbid an increase in ar
maments or to direct the duties OF q
mandate In case we first agree to the re-
duction OF armaments or to the assump-
ton OF the mandate.
Defines League Authority.
TT Is sometimes asked, II the author
itv OF the organs OF the league Is so in
significant. where il its efficiency in pre-
venting war? The answer is that it lies
in the obligations assumed under the
covenant directly by the several menu
bers OF the league. and this In both the
most effective and least adventurous
method of preventing war. There are in
fact two possible forms of league for this
purpose. Ono. that projected in the
covenant of Paris, where the obligations
of the members are precisely defined
and where their treaty rights and duties
arise automatically on the outbreak OF
wsr---any other action recommended af-
ter consultation being voluntary.
1.-THE other form of league to prevent
war would be one where the members
should agree to comply with the direc-
lions OF some International body. and in
that case the obligation OF the members
to act would not arise until after de-
liberation and vote Of that body.
This second form of league has two
serious disadvantages. The sanction of
the provision against waging war. that
In, the penalty for violation of the provi-
sion. is neither Immediate nor certain
but depends upon the Somewhat doubtful
process OF discussion, where a single
negative voice OF n powerful nation may
practically prevent action. The deter
rent for the intending offender IL there
fore walker than in the othar forf,, NJ
league The second disadvantage Is the
uncertainty in the obligations assumed
by the members Of the league. which de-
pend upon the determinations of the In
ternational body. A. council with such, a
power might without gross exaggeration
be termed la some sens sdpersoy-
ereign. or rather a supernatural coun-
Gil, but that is not the form OF lea que
proposed by the covenant OF Paris, and
criticism Of this covenant based upon q