New-York tribune., 1919-03-28
The Hughes Amendments

section surgical in thoroughness, Mr..
Hughes scrutinized about everything ex-
cept what was left after he had finished
his labors. He excised, trimmed, pared,
pruned, sheared and shaved, but vent
ured on no description of what odds and
ends of the cadaver remained. 1t is per-
haps worth while to remedy the lack.
What will be left if the amendments
practically all of which are urged by
Messrs Taft and Lowell and at last ac-
counts were receiving favorable consider
alton in the closed room at Paris pro-
posed by Mr.. Hughes are adopted?
Seven things are to be done 1t must
be made clear that all decisions are to be
by unanimous vote; that internal ques-
tons, such as the immigration and tariff
laws, shall be excluded from considera-
ton; that no non American power shall
acquire in any way possessions in Amer
ica that American questions shall be left
to America; that Article X, with its
clause for mutual guarantee of terri
tories and independence, shall be elimi-
mated; that no league member shall be-
come mandatory without its consent,
and no European or Asiatic power shall
be mandatary for an American people;
and, finally, that any member shall be at
liberty to withdraw from the league Mt
any time.
The world has looked in vain for teeth
in the covenant, but even the roots Of
teeth are to be extracted Under the
original plan the so-callcd executive
council Tin fact, merely an ambassadoral
one) was to possess power to suggest, if
home authorities consented, to partcu-
lar recommendation, with the further
halter that q recommendation so arrived
at was to be referred back for approval
But even this shadow is to so. No rec
ia unanimity. 1t is not easy to imagine
the delegates Of Black Germany and Red
Russia spontaneously agreeing with the
delegates Of the white nations concerning
the rights of mankind. The experience
of Poland with a similar Eberun, veto
showed that when general consent is nec-
essary there is no action concerning dis
putable matters. Matters not in contro-
versy do not lead to wars
The formal recognition of the existence
of questions peculiar to America carries
the corollary, if there is to be equality
among nations, of return recognition
Of the peculiar interests of other nations.
Japan is ready to launch Monroe Doc
trine; 80 is Australia, and so are other
countries. 1t is a habit. Nations tend to
think there are questions special to them,
and when we demand the exclusion of
America from general rules we concede
>Lo JucJlIS Oh OCNcr EXCLUSIONS.
A greater subtraction is the elimna-
tion of Article X and the provision for a
universal right Of withdrawal at will
The Belgian guarantee had the merit Of
being IN form perpetual, was an agree
ment that could not be disregarded with
out an open breach of faith. How Roth
mann-Hollweg would have been delighted
II he had been able to tell the Reichstao
\ mat acting according TO the provisions
OF the Belgian treaty the German gov-
ernment elected no longer to be a par+v
TO It, A contract listing only as long a.
Inc s'gners arc unchanged Of mind Ia
scarcely q contract. 1t has more tho
nature OF mn Indian bargain.
In the present form the covenant il
anmsnic-~is practically re-write Of tho
Hague convention Of 1907, which did not
stay war single day. There we're ambi-
gyjties which were susceptible Of inter.
prststions which invaded independence;
but with the smbiguities gone with Arti.
els x struck out and Article XVI de.
ratured, the document will be seen for
what IL is-~namcIy, scheme for moro
or less periodic meeting Of ambassadors;