The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-08-19

doctrine was used. not hsDause
any one OF the eonfsrees thought
there was any comparable agree
ment anywhere else In Ito exist
snce or In contemplation, but oaly
because II was though; best to
avoid the appearance OF dealing
in such q document with the pol
Icy Of single nation. Abso-
iutely nothing is concealed In the
phrase.
with regard to domestic questions,
article XVI Of the covenant expressly
provides that, il in case OF any dis
pu,e arising between members OF the
league the matter involved is claimed
by one OF the parties and is ionrd
by the council to arise out Of a mat
ter which by international law is
solely within the domestic jurisdic-
ton OF that party, the council shall
so report and shall make no recon
menda,on as to its settlement The
United States was by means the only
government interested IN the explicit
adoption OF this provision and there
is no doub, in the mind OF any author
itative student Of international law
that such matters as immigration
tariff. and naturalization are neon
testably domestic questions win
which no International body could
deal without express authority to
do so.
"No enumeration OF domestic ques-
ton, was undertaken because to un-
.der,ake il, even by sample, would
have involved the danger o' seem
ing TO exclude those not mentioned.
The Right to Withdraw.
"The right Of any sovereign state 70
! withdraw had been taken for granted
hut no objection was made to making
il explicit. Indeed so soon as the
views expressed at the White House
conference were laid before the com
mission il was at once conceded ths'
il was best not to leave the answer
10 so important a question 10 inter
fere No proposal was made to SCI
up any tribunal to pass judgment
upon the question whether with.
drawing nation had in TACT fulfilled
all its international obligations ant
all its obligations under the covenant
i, was recognized that that question
mus, be left TO be resolved by thu
conscience Of the nation proposing u
withdraw, and | must say that II die
not seem to me worth while to pro
pose that the article be made mor'
explicit because knew that th'
United States would never itself pro
rose &c withdraw from 'he leastr 7
It's conscience was not entirely cleal
las to the fuliillment Of ali its inter
national obligations. II has ncve'
failed to fulfill them and never will
Article X is in no respect OF doubt
full meaning when read in the liph
OF the covenant as whole. Th'
council Of the league can only "ad
wise upon" the means by which IN,
obligations OF tha, great article ar
20 be given effect unleas the Unite'
States is a party TO the policy o
action in question. her own aifirma
ltivc vote in the council is necessar
before any advice Gao be given, for
unanimous vote OF the council Il n
CURED. II she is a party, the ro,ib
is hers anyhow. and the unanimo,
vote Of the council is only advice
any case. Each government Is fr,
: to reject il IL il pleases. Nothi'
|, could have been made more clear
the conference than the right Of o.
congress under our constitution.
: exercise is independent agreemsnt
all matters Of peace and Oar. n
attempt was made to question or lin
that right. The United States viii
indeed, undertake under Article X ,
respect sbd preserve IS against ex
ternal aggression the territorial in
tegrity and existing political indie
pendence OF all members Of III
league, and that engagement consti
tutes 4 very grave and solemn mora
obligation. But it is a moral, not
legal obligation, and leaves our con
gress absolutely free TO put It's ow,
Interpretation upon it in all cases tina
call for action. 1t is binding in con
science only, not in law.
ARTICLE Z seems to me 10 con-
stitute The very backbone Of the
whole eovsnaat. Without II the
league would b. hardly more
than Al Influential debating So
ciety.
1T has several times been sue