The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-08-08
ARTICLE III
The Assembly.

league, the one IN Whlch al inc mem
bers are represented, by three dele
gates apiece If they please, so that il
all the fortyfive countries named in
the annext to the covenant should
join the league, and each of them
should send its full complement OF
three, the assembly would fill one
hundred and thirty-five seats. Since
statesmen and others in al Hands
have a strong desire to be of service
the delegates present viii not be
on such occasions it is probable that
much less than this, a number well
fitted for debate, but not for conf
dental interchange Of opinions on
delicate matters.
Actual Functions Limited.
The assembly will indeed, prob
ably attract more popular attention
than any other organ of the league;
and yet its actual functions, which
arc to be found scattered through va
rious articles of the covenant, are
extremely limited Besides regulating
it's own procedure and. appointing its
committees, it is empowered to Sc
lect the four smaller states to be
represented on the council to approve
of enlargements of the council, to
confirm the selection of the secretary
general to report upon disputes be-
tween nations referred to it by the
council or by either Of the disputants,
to advise the reconsideration by mem
bers of the league of treaties that
have become inapplicable an dthe
consideration of international condi-
tions endangering the peace Of the
world, an dby two-thirds vote to adj
nit new members to the league. Ex-
cept, therefore, for some definite
powers relating to- the organization
and membership of the league, its an
thority in international affairs is con
iiHNu w iHahihS q ANpNio III SOi tebih
disputes, and giving some advice to
the members.
What then is the meaning Of the
third clause of the article which pro
vides that "the assembly may deal at
its meetings with any matter within
the sphere of action of the league, or
affecting the peace of the world"
Clearly this does not mean that it
can deal only with the subjects to
which it's authority extends by the
provisions of the covenant, for that
would reduce its field Of discussion
to almost nothing Nor, on the other
hand, does it mean that the assembly
can take action binding upon the
members in all matters within the
sphere of action of the league, be-
cause specific provisions are made
for dealing with those matters, and
the Interpretation suggested would
render all such provisions futile. The
assembly would have power to over
rule them all Moreover, Article V
declares that except where otherwise j
expressly provided decisions Of the
assembly or council shall require the !
consent of all the members Of the |
league represented at the meeting
But a unanimous decision of forty |
five countries can never be attained |
where there is any serious difference
of opinion, and where there is not it
is needless. TO authorize the assem-
bly, to take unanimous action on any
subject they pleased would, there
fore, be simply comforting a power
that cannot be used
Importance Of Discussion.
In view of the other specific pro
visions of the covenant the inten-
tion of the clause is perfectly clear
II means that the assembly is au-
thorized not to decide, but to discuss,
al matters within the sphere of ac-
ton of the league or that affect the
peace of the world In this it is the
to the conference at the
Hague. Save for the very limited
expressly vested in it the
of the assembly is discus
sion, andthat is of immense import
ince. The mere fact that any nation,
however small, can bring its griev-
inces and its aspirations before
general body Of representatives gath
rcd from all the free, orderly and
.iyilized peoples of the earth is of in
value. L is a fertile means
# creating that enlightened public
opinion on international questions
which has been heralded as one of
he chief objects Of a league.
International disuust often arises
rom misunderstanding which can be
amoved by open conference. and by
oints Of contact are points of mu-
lal comprehension. The influence
f external public opinion may well
md to enlarge, and thus reduce what
Dad in excessive chauvinism with