The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-23
I DANGERS LAID BARE IN SENATOR REEDS ADDRESS


7 Netherlands. Norway. Sweden, switzer-
land and Spain, provided they shall joir.
within two months OF the going into
force of the covenant. OF the States
named, Spain has already indicated a
J willingness to join. but the other States
have not.
mot counting Spain, they contain an
aggregate population of 21,553,552 per-
sons. They are among the most intelli-
gent and highly educated people on
earth, the illiteracy being less than 1
, per cent. In addition to the foregoing
the following Statea have been invited to
: join: Argentine Republic, Chill. Colon
bia, Paraguay, Persia, Salvador and
Venezuela. with total population of
32,2O5, 900. ., 80.
should any. OF these nations fail to
, join within the sixty days specified, then
their admission may be accomplished by
two-thirds vote or their rejection by 4
one-third. vote. In that event 1t would
, pbe within the power of the present menu
bership to admit or exclude from menu
bership the vast majority of the nations
OF Europe. .....
This power to admit into the league
all these mighty nations or to reject
them, in the latter instance by q one
third vote, Is the power to force upon
: us as partners some of the nations with
which we have been recently at war
even though they may not have purBed
themselves OF their offences.
Upon the other hand II is the power
to unwlsely exclude these and the hon
offending nations. and TO force all of the
outside nations to unite themselves into
an offensive and defensive alliance. thus
separating the world into two great an
tagonistic organizations. Under such
' conditions a single spark struck, even In
a remote and barbarous country, nay
start confiagration which will blaze
throughout the world.
No Limit 20 Membership.
But in addition to the states named
, the league has the express right to re-
ceive other. states. 1t Is specifically
, recited:
, minion or colony not named In the
annex may become a member of the
, league If it's admission is agreed 10 by
two-thirds OF the assembly Cart. ~
Under the broad authority thus
granted there is no limit to the mem
bership which may be admitted except
, the lack of raw material.
THE assembly has the power to die
tate the guarantees which shall, be
: given by applicants for membership
The language of the covenant is:
"'Any fully self-governing state. do
minion or colony not named in the
. annex may become a member OF the
, league II its admission is agreed to by
! two-thtrds OF the assembly; provided.
, that 1t shall give effective guarantees of
, its sincere intention to observe its in
. terrational obligations and shall accept
such ratifications as may be prescribed
by the league in regard to its military
naval and air forces and ornaments.
Cart. -
h THE power to receive or reject APP
Y plications for membership and the power
9 to prescribe the nature and the character
< of the guarantees are found in single
d sentence. Clearly the right to determine
all these questions is lodged In the as
: sembly. The power to prescribe the
h nature and character of the guarantees
: may be so employed as to influence the
4 conduct Of any state seeking member
ship.
: 'eWhat will constitute effective guar
b antees rests wholly in the decision of
the assembly. Should a state in dire
: necessity come into the league guar
n antees might be exacted of such ma
y ture as to practically render IT a vassal
a state or leave 1t so completely disarmed
d or crippled as to be without effective
n power of defence. 1t might be required
to dismantle fortresses, to concede the
n control of navigable waters. or to even
t yield territory.
: Upon the other hand. the only guar
= antees required might be a simple prom
n Use to abide by the rules of the league.
N How Power Might He Used.
y ''The power thus lodged is manifestly
a great and important one which can
y be so employed to the advantage of the
u dominant element in the league. States
: friendly to that element can be admitted
/ upon generous terms; states unfriendly
/ excluded or required to give such guar
l. antees as to place them under control
The results indicated NAV be re-
o sarded as certain to follow. for it must
i be remembered that in all international
dealings nations have continuously held
e to the doctrine that 1t is the business
u OF each state to have regard to its own
= interests. He who imagines that men,
u bershlp in the league will change this
70 country-old disposition Is a visionary in
deed.
" proof is found in the circumstances
70 at this moment confronting US. Ever
20 as We form the league, and while the
70 respective nations are proclaiming am
ity, good will, generosity, and disinter'
'r estedness with their lips, each is grab.
r bling with both hands territories, PEG
II pies and indemnities.
ie IF, holding in sacred trust the right:
OF tne american people, SHdrBeu VIII
Of the high duty OF guarding their inter
Of eats, we close on eyes TO the plain fact!
e. OF life and refuse to have regard fol
lie the lessons of history, we prove our
selves not only dreamers but fools.
Of 1.-THE assembly can deny any state the
- right to withdraw from the league This
y, power is found in the authority of the
n. assembly to decide whether the with
ID drawing state has fulfilled all its III
e ternational obligations and its obllga
~ tons under the covenant The provi
Il sion regarding the withdrawal of mem
d. bers from the league is as follows:
"a "'Any member of the league may
j. after two years notice of its intention
so to do withdraw from the league, pro
vided that all its international obliga
SO tons and all its obligations under tn,
10 covenant shall have been fulfilled at tn,
time of its withdrawal Article 1.
State Entitled to Judge.
"A at will not be seriously contended tina
a the state desiring to withdraw is en-
n titled to decide for itself whether It hal
= fulfilled all its international Obligation
AZ and its Obligations under the covenant
NJ Such a construction would deny to tn
league any jurisdiction over It's member
- and would leave the case so that
y state which had broken every obligation
under the covenant and every preoep
OF international law could also withou
nc ri on lie -