The Irish standard., 1919-04-05

be assigned to Marshal Foch? The rapids of Boil
shevism not far down the current on which the
world is drifting.
MR.. ROOTS ILLUMINATING ANALYSIS OF
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.
By far the best, simplest and most statesman
like analysis of the League of Nations proposition
that has so far appeared in America-or perhaps in
Europe-s that of former Secretary of State Elihu
Root of New York. This veteran statesman has
given us an invaluable and quite exhaustive presen-
tation OF the scheme from the American viewpoint
that will enable the average citizen to get work
able knowledge of its general provisions for the
avoidance OF future wars, and appraise the merits
LOT the ways and means land down to accomplish
that end. What is of special interest to America
is the suggestion he has offered for the preservation
of the Monroe Doctrine, and the precautions nee
|essary part to retain the proved benefits of
the same in our national policy. Mr.. Root has
framed an amendment to the proposed constitu-
ton which is we'll designed to effect the purpose,
American Senate and before the American public
The causes of all wars, Mr.. Root points out are
embraced under two distinct classes. One of these
consists OF controversies about rights under the
justi6able or judicial questions and are similar to
the disputes between individuals that ordinarily en-
gage the attention of civil courts. The other
class of disputes leading to consists of clashes
between conflicting national policies arising when
one or more nations seek to do something which
provokes antagonism from another government
These constitute international politics, and are to
be classed as non-justifable issues
Regarding the settlement of questions of the first
class, justihabe matters above defined, some
progress made in the international conference
in The Hague in 1899 and 1907, but the system was
defective in that arbitration not made compul-
sorry and there was no way to enforce the judgment
of the tribunal In the constitution it is sug
gested that "teeth" shall be placed in The Hague
system to give it's decisions force and effect
1t is, however, from the second class of questions
that the major part of the arise, the issues in
volving national policies, and the weak point in
dealing with these hitherto has been that they had
Ito be handled by international conferences sum-
moned to meet the exigencies of the situation.
These left to the initiative of the individual
nations, none of which had right to call con-
ference, and nobody was bound to attend one The
|great and essential thing in the proposed constitu-
ton is that it makes international conferences
such questions compulsory in times of danger and
no nation can safely keep out of them, as is pro-
agreement. These questions are to be submitted
to the Executive Council of the League, at the
option of either to the whole body of delegates.
War is declared to be matter of concern to the
whole League, and is prohibited without submis-
sion of the dispute and without allowing time for
its settlement, or contrary to unanimous recon-
mendation of the Executive Council. Economic
boycott military force is to be used to enferce
the judgments of the League
The Monroe Doctrine must not be submitted to
the League, says Mr.. Root, which would be to sur
render it, The agreement as it now stands involves
la surrender of that doctrine, and amendment is
offered reserving to America its traditional attitude
towards purely American questions. The article
covering the matter of preserving the territorial in
tegrty of the nations of the League is condemned
futile undertaking and if retained at all should
be restricted in scope and limited in time. Only
the exigencies of the present situation justify
the adoption of such proposal. :
Mr.. Roots survey OF. the international char
ter is illuminated with many citations of and
vast fund of legal and political lore. Strangely
Iternationa1 law except in its preamble, and the
criticism offered will doubtless serve to remind the
delegates that this valuable code should not be re-
duced to naught in the new scheme. The Hague
system, though weak and insufficient still consti-
tutes nucleus for the developmentof of the provi-
sions of the new program, to which recourse will
be had when the new system is put into operation
A League of Nations is certainty of the future
and with its constitution amended along the out
lines suggested by this learned and astute COUNSEL
l1or America will not shrink from doing its natural
part in the regulation of the affairs of the world
for the common benefit of all mankind.
"Why are the Minneapolis street cars like BAN
lanas?" said man who had been given ample op-
portunty to think of the matter while waiting for
a,car.
| We ventured to answer. Because it costs
nickel when you take one, and the quality is in
ferior."
"Nope." said he, because they're yellow and
come in punches"