Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-14
Now Conceded There viii Be
No International Army in
Spite of Strong Support of
Idea BY France.
CONSTITUTION TO
BE SIMPLY DRAFTED
General Agreement is That
Wisdom Demands That Or
qanic Law Be as Elastic and
Easily Expanded.
(By Herbert Bayard Swope.)
Copyright, 1919. by the Press Pub
fishing Co


(The New York WORLDLY
Especial Gable Dispatch to the World
and Albuquerque Journall
Paris, Feb. t3.-It would be unwise
as well as dangerous to permit false
impressions to exist as to the real ma
ture of the league of nations now be-
ing constructed. out OF the needless
cloud of doubt and mystery surround
ing the work of the formulating COM
mittee there have come conjectures
as to the functions and character of
the constitution. some of which are
misleading and apt to build eXpecta-
tions that, will not be realized
The league trainers have agreed
that secrecy Is essential concerning
details. But they have permitted the
policy of suppression to carry them
SO far that there is now doubt as to
the basic principles. A comparison of
the attitude assumed by the various
elements engaged show that the final
draft viii be TAR more loosely con-
structed than IT Is generally believed.
1t is important to understand that
there IS to be no per-sovereignty
created which VIII absorb the indi-
vidaual rights of the nations compos-
ing the league. Instead of having the
league exercise functions surrendered
to it by countries which thereupon re-
nounce the right to separate activity,
the plan favors the idea of having the
league possess coordinate powers
rather than superior rights,
The leagues final success is largely
dependent upon the universal recog-
milton of the supreme tribunals juris-
diction which must be voluntarily
granted, since there has been no
n 1nt bnI xlh aIItr lot
is possible.
There IS not to be any international
standing police force, such need being
supplied when the occasion arises by
individual participation of the several
members after coercive action against
an offender has been decided upon by
the supreme council
The present plan is to have the
constitution drawn in as simple
manner as possible, with the question
able points left open IN the expecta-
tion that the leagues success will
bring about strengthening of the
structure where it is needed most.
Agreement is general that the part
of wisdom is to devise an elastic con-
stitution which can be expanded or
contracted as needs develop.
Frances position favors a tighten
ing of the clause relating to coercion.
Her exposed positions make her de-
mand equal security If she Is to be
denied the privilege of entering into
separate treaties of defense. There
has been strong agitation leading to
this point for several weeks, which
eliminated in Marshal Foch's warn
ing regarding Germany's high mill
tary potentiality
But neither the Americans nor the
British are concerned with this view,
they believing that Germany at this
time Is not to be seriously feared
from military standpoint.
Some see in the French alarm a
new effort to bring about a favorable
attitude toward either annexation or
naturalization of the left bank of the
Rhine, which plan finds small con-
sideration in the eyes of others than
Frenchmen.
Although the French are distinctly
unsympathetic. it is expected else
where that the Russian conference
will be held, even though the Boshe-
visits are the only faction to be there.
The French fear that in such case
the meeting will become an asset to
those elements who are opposed to
Russian nationalism, on which French
political, military and financial hopes
are built, The conference will start in
without that unanimity OF spirit es-
sentlal to success, which is a handicap
hard to overcome. 1t is scheduled for
next Friday.