Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-02
ROOT ON THE LEAGUE.

league oh nduons' n giving a Crllcal analysis of n
suggested constitution made public at Paris in Febru-
airy. AS was to be expected Of a man of this type, Mr..
Roots statement is clear, forceful. orderly and temper
ate 1t deals with great principles and their applica-
ti,n and is admirably lacking in the petty personalities
which have characterized so much of the debate on this
subject of world interest.
Mr.. Root believes emphatically in the creation Of a
world league for the preservation of world peace, and
he believes that such a league should be created now.
He does not believe that there can be formulated now
or at any other time a plan free from defects, but he
would not permit that fact to stand in the way of the
adoption row of the best plan that can be devised.
In the statement attention is directed to the fact
that the constitution presented to the conference and the
world six weeks ago was not regarded by its trainers as
a finished product. nor was it presented under that
guisa. On the contrary. it was made public in order
,ha: it might be discussed by all the peoples concerned.
and that those entrusted with the duty of giving to the
document its final form should have the aid of the COM
hinrd thought of the world in this great work. That
there was a common understanding to this effect is made
clear Ivy his quotations from statements made by Lord
Robert Cecil, of Great Britain, Premier Orlando, of Italy,
and Leon Bourseoise, of France. each representing his
own nation on the committee. and each declaring, in
substance, that the constitution was presented for dis
cussion and suggestion. To these might have been added
similar declarations by President Wilson, of the United
States.
Having laid this foundation, Mr.. Root proceeds to
a constructively critical analysis. Proceeding from the
avowed object of the agreement. which is to prevent
future wars. he discusses the means whereby interna-
tional disputes are to be settled without war, namely,
through arbitration or the operation of courts of COM
petent jurisdiction. In a running summary he sketches
the recent history of the movement for international
arbitration, showing that for more than half a century
the nations have been working toward this end, and
that every American president from the Civil war period
down has worked for the application of this principle
in our relations with other nations. The provision in the
league constitution for the arbitration of political dis
putes such as brought on the recent war Mr.. Root finds
to be wholly admirable. and he has no changes to sug-
gest with reference to this feature, which he considers
the great and essential thing about the plan.
He finds the constitution defective in that it does
not provide in a similarly effective manner for the com
pulsory settlement of those questions which are not po-
litical, but legal in their nature, and we have evidence
e of the trained legal mind at work in the suggestion that
. the constitution should make ample provision for the
/ systematic formulation of international law, and the
compulsory settlement by international courts of all
questions which are justifable in their nature. In this
Mr.. Root is in total disagreement with many more noisy.
but less thoughtful DIRECTORS who have declared the
constitution to be too strong rather than too weak.
The provisions of the constitution relating to man.
datories, to which considerable objection has been made
Mr.. Root regards as excellent, and he suggests no
amendment thereto.
He believes that the constitution does not give prop,
fer recognition to the Monroe doctrine, and he suggests
the insertion, Immediately preceding the signatures OF
the American commissioners. Of a paragraph setting
forth the fact that the United States becomes a party
to the agreement, not for the settlement of any of he,
own quarrels. and not by reason Of any conditions in this
hemisphere, but at the request of its European friends
to aid them in establishing general peace; and that it il
understood that the joining Of the league by the United
: States involves no departure from its traditional policy
with reference to American affairs. An objection to this
, which has been made to other suggestions Of like char.
l. acter, is that if in a general document, special provisions
are made to cover special cases, demands for such special
provisions may be expected to come from many sources
and it these are conceded the document becomes a patch.
q work affair.
In all Mr.. Root suggests six amendments which may
be briefly described as follows:
e First. Providing for the obligatory submission
l. of all justiciable questions to an appropriate world
court, the signatory powers agreeing to abide in all
c cases by the awards made.
n Second. A provision for the review Of interna-
tional law and agreement for the formulation of its
terms.
Third. The provision above mentioned by
which the United States reserves from the operation
g of the league all matters involved in the Monroe doc
trine or in connection with immigration. e
Fourth. A provision that at the end Of i've
years any power, by giving one years notice. may
n terminate its obligation under Article x, which
guarantees maintenance of territory and independ-
ence as against external aggression.
d Fifth. A provision that the commission which
d specifies the conditions of limitation Of armament
. shall have full powers Of inspection and verihcauon
n in order to make certain that the conditions are not
I being evaded by any nation.
\ Sixth. A provision for a general conference Of
y members not less than i've nor more than ten years
Il after the signing of the agreement. for the purpose
4 Of revision. and that at that time, or at any time
therester upon one years notice, any member may
u withdraw from the league. I
Mr. Roots analysts Is Informative and ennghteninx