Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-22
ROOT PROPOSITION
MEASURING PEACE,
ALSOLMITSLEAGUE
Mr.. Roots
Letter Sent
0Mr: Lodge

cult situation arising out Of the CON
bination of the league of nation
covenant with the peace treaty TO
lows:
The Honorable Henry Cabot Lodge.
Washington, D. c.
My dear Senator:
You were good enough to ask
that after studying the whole of
the proposed treaty with Germany
and the amendments already made
to the league of nations part of
it, 1 should write you my opinion
as to the amendments and as to
the action which would be wise. in
view Of existing international con-
ditions.
Approves Knox Separation Plan.
1 should be glad to see the peace
terms and the league of nations
covenant separated as proposed in
the resolution offered by Senator
Knox, so that the latter could be
considered by the people OF the
country without coercion from the
necessities Of speedy peace.
To avoid repetition, 1 inclose a
copy of a letter which I wrote to,
Mr.. Will H. Hays, March 20. 1919.
proposing amendments to the
league of nations covenant, and
giving the reasons. for them.
Amendments similar in substance
were proposed at about the same
time by many Americans familiar
with public affairs both in and out
of the Senate. The amendments
subsequently made in the covenant
by the Paris conference. while to
some extent dealing with the sub
jects of the amendments SO pro-
posed, are very Inadequate and I'M
satisfactory.
Cites Errors Of Omission.
Nothing has been done to pro-
. vide for the re-establishment and
strengthening of a system of arbi-
tration or judicial decision upon
questions Of legal right Nothing
has been done toward providing
for the revision or development
of international law. In these re-
spects principles maintained by
the United States without varia-
ton for half a century are still
ignored. and we are left with
program which rests the hope Of
the world for future peace in a
government of men. and not OF
laws, following the dictates of
expediency, and not Of right.
Nothing has been done to limit the
vast and incalculable obligation
which article x of the covenant
undertakes to impose upon each
member Of the league to preserve
against external aggression the
territorial integrity and political
independence of all members Of
the league all over the world.
Criticises Withdrawal Clause.
The clause authorizing with
drawal from the league upon two
years notice leaves doubt
whether a mere charge that we
had not performed some interna-
tional obligation would not put 1t
in the power Of the council to take
jurisdiction of the charge as a
disputed question and keep US in
the league indefinitely against
our will.
The clause which has been in
serted regarding the Monroe doc
trine is erroneous In its descrip-
ton of the doctrine. and ambigu-
Gus in meaning. Other purely
American questions, as. for ex-
ample. questions relating to I'M
migration, are protected only by
a clause apparently empowering
the council to determine whether
such questions are solely within
the domestic Jurisdiction of the
United States. I do not think that
in these respects the United States
is sufficiently protected against
most Injurious results which are
wholly unnecessary for the estab-
lishment and maintenance of this
league of nations.
Praises Certain Provisions.
On the other hand, 1t still re-
mains that there is in the cove
nant a great deal of very high
value which the world ought not
to lose. The arrangement to make
conferences of the powers auto
matte when there is danger of
war: provisions for joint action, as
Of course by representatives OF the
nations concerned in matters at
fecting common interests; the
agreement for delay in case of
serious disputes. with opportunity
to bring the public opinion of the
world to bear on the disputants,
and to induce cool and deliberate
Judgment: the recognition of racial
and popular rights to the freedom
of local self-government; and the
plan. indispensable in some form.
for setting up governments in the
vast regions deprived by the war
of the autocratic rule which had
maintained order-all these ought
not be lost. II that can possibly be
avoided. The condition Of Europe
required prompt action. Industry
has not revived there. It's revival
requires raw materials. To obtain
those credit Is necessary. and for
this there must be security for the
fruits OF enterprise. and for this
there must be peace. Satan is find
ing evil work for idle hands to do
in Europe-evil work that affects
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