Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-31


or upon what terms the central or
eastern powers are to be admitted to
! the league" he contended that the
initial obligations of the members
! must not be regarded as irrevocable,
and favored it's revision when the
world is less subject to exciting and
| disturbing causes" And at the time
of revision. or thereafter upon a
| years notice, he said, any member
should have the right to withdraw.
! Mr.. Roots study of the covenant
clause committing the signatories
Ito respect and preserve as against
external aggression the territorial
integrity and existing political in
! dependence of all members of the
league" had led him, on first impress
sion, he stated, to believe that the
article should be stricken out. If
perpetual, he added, it would be
! preserve for all time the distrbu-
! ton of power and territory made in
accordance with the views and
eXigencies of the allies in the pres
ent juncture of affairs" On second
thought, however, the former Secre-
! tary declared, he had become con-
| yinced that the article should be
considered in reference to the pres
ent situation in Europe. To restore
order. he contended. the Allied
Council must determine lines of re-
construction and enforce its determ-
ination.
! L. $. Cannot Quit
With Great Britain, France, Italy
and Belgium, whose populations are
| less than 130,0OO,O0O, confronted
with the vigorous and warlike peo-
Piles of Germany, German-Austria,
: Hin Rtlo1 ria R11SSin ND
key, numbering 2S0.0OO,00O and fast
returning to barbarism and the law
! less violence of barbarous races"
| Mr.. Root asserted. the United States
! cannot quit. 1t must go on with the
performance of its duty" For this
reason he advocated the retention of
article 10, guaranteeing the inde-
! pendence of all the league members,
with the reservation that after five
years any signatory may withdraw
from the obligation.
The former Secretary regretted
that the Senate was not convened,
Immediately after March 4, Ito per-
form its duty" of discussing the
project.
The former Secretary's suggested
amendments, annexed to his letter
| to Chairman Hays, follow:
l. Strike out Article III (relating
| to arbitration) and insert the fol-
/ lowing:
The high contracting powers agree
| to refer to the existing permanent
court of arbitration at the Hague, or
! to the court of arbitral justice pro-
| posed at the second Hague confer
ence when established, or to some
other arbitral tribunal, all disputes
! between them Cincluding those af-
! fecting honor and vital interests)
which are of justiciable character,
and which the powers concerned
| have failed to settle by diplomatic
methods. The powers so referring
to arbitration agree to accept and
give effect to the award of the trib-
unal.
Disputes of a justiciable character
are defined as disputes as to the in
terpretation of treaty, as to any
question of International law, as to
the existence of any fact which if
established would constitute a
breach of any international obliga-
ton, or as to the nature and eX-
tent of the reparation to be made for
any such breach.
Any question which may arise as
to whether a dispute is of justici
able character is to be referred for
decision to the court of arbitral JUS
tiCe when constituted. or. until it is
constituted. to the existing perma-
nent court of arbitration at the
Hague.
.. Add to Article XIV the follow
ing paragraph.
The Executive Council shall call
a general conference of the powers
to meet not less than two years or
more than five years after the sign
ing of this convention for the pur-
pose of reviewing the conditions of
international law, and of agreeing
upon and stating in authoritative
form the principles and rules
thereof.
Thereafter regular conferences for
that purpose shall be called and held
at stated times.
8. Immediately before the sigma
ture of the American delegates, in
sert the following reservation:
Inasmuch as in becoming a mem
Der of the league the United States
OF America is moved by no interest
or wish to intrude upon or interfere
with the political policy or internal
administration of any foreign state
and by no existing or anticipated
dangers in the affairs of the Ameri-
can continents, but accedes to the
wish of the European states that il
shall join its power to theirs for
the preservation of general peace,
the representatives of the United
States of America sign this conven-
ton with the understanding that
nothing therein contained shall be
construed to imply a REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States of America of
its traditional attitude towards
purely American questions. or to re-
quire the submission of it's policy
regarding such questions Gncluding
therein the admission of immi-
grants), to the decision or recon-
mendation of other powers.
4. Add to Article y guarantee
ing the existing status of member
states) the following:
After the expiration of five years
from the signing of this convention
any party may terminate its obliga-
ton under this article by giving one
years notice in writing to the secre-
tary general of the league.
3. Add to Article XI (relating to
commission to supervise the reduc-
ton of armaments) the following
Such commission shall have full
power of inspection and verification
personally and by authorized agents
as to all armament, equipment, mu-
nitions, and industries referred to in
Article VIII.
G. Add to Article XIV the fol-
lowing:
The Executive Council shall call a
general conference of r,oapobars of