The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-23
Criticism Did Good
Covenant of League Altered as
Result of Comments by Public

Washington, April 12-The ofhclal
summary Of the amended covenant OF
the league Of nations was received at
Washington tonight too late for ofn-
cia,s and members of congress to study
it for formal comment. It was ap-
parent however, that important
changes in the original document were
designed to meet criticisms made on
the floor of the senate and elsewhere
by friendly critics as we'll as :oppo-
nents Of the league.
1t was pointed out that it was dif-
ficuit to make a comparison Of the
official summary of the new covenant
issued at Paris with the original con-
stitution since it was possible to tell
onlv what new matter had been in
jected and not how much Of the old
i language had been retained. partlcu-
larly in regard to relatively minor
! points.
!! Aside from the amendment speclf'-
cally mentioning the Monroe doctrine
as among regional understandings
not affected by the covenant, the
change which seemed to attract the
most attention here was that requiring
unanimous vote in both the assembly
of states and the governing executive
council in any decision upon a matter
of international interest or threat
enins the peace Of the world" J"
In the original, unanimous consent
was required excepting the parties to
a dispute. This change apparently
was intended to make it clear that no
nation surrendered its sovereignty or
right Of individual action through
membership in the league.
Another change in a section much
discussed in the senate debate re-
ouires the approval Of each member
state of recommendations of the coun-
Gil as to be the amount Of armed force,
il any, to be supplied by those states
10 act on behalf of the league in NOV
inc against a state which has broken
the covenant. 10
Opponents of the constitution as
originally drawn insisted: this section
took away from congress the power
} to declare war and might force the
Cnited States to send it's soldiers OF
! sailors into battle in some far off cor
? ner of the earth for a cause in which
I, the country was not interested.
The same kind Of a change was
! made in the sections relating to dis
) armament and the administration of
3 mandates over the former German
colonies and territories Of the Otto
t man Empire. 1t is specifically pro-
S vided that the suggestions Of the
I council for reduction Of arraaments
shall be adopted only with the con-
t sent Of affected states themselves
e Provision is made for manufactures by
s states which are willing to be man
datories.
I The right is given any state to
E withdraw from the league on two
years notice provided such state has
: kept it's obligations to date The
failure of the first draft to make any
l provision for withdrawal from the
league has been the subject Of much
discussion.
Amendments to the covenant under
the new draft require the approval Of
: all states or the council-the FIVE
great powers and foar other nat;s,ns
to be selected-and "a Simple nla;cr-
ity in the assembly, which is conn
posed Of all repres ,rtativcs Of all
member states. Originally three
fourths majority was required in the
assembly.
Another addition sets forth that the
number Of powers of each class rep
resented on the council may be in
creased by the unanimous consent OF
the council and a majority Of the as
sembly. Other new provisions in
clude the accepting by member states
; of certain responsibilities with re-.
gard to the labor conditions, treat
ment of natives, white slave traffic
opium traffic, the arms traffic with
uncivilized and semi i-civilized conn-
tries, transit and trade conditions,
public health and Red Cross Societies
and formal recognition Of the league
as the central body interested in CO.
ordinatng and assisting international
activities, generally.