The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-15

agencies at present are capahle fur.
ther Wholesale bloodshed. Does tho
plan proposed tend TO this accom-
pishmenJe
leagues Opponents Disagree.
ihe covenant OF the league. as at
present constituted, has been assaiIsd
from two opposite sources. One cot-
tennon ls that it creates a supernation
Suhmcrglng into its sovereignty rho
sovereignty of all the s!gnatories to rho
covenant, that "A supreme world
sovereign is created to whom The
nations are subordina;ed. The other
contention. urged by its opponents
Win equal insistence. is that the cove
hdht Is Il worthless paper parchment.
"ithout sovereignty. without mower
ana hence the league will be helpless
70 prevent war or TO adjust am,
chaouc political conditions which NAV
~ tne' IL Is impossible for both OF
1hese contentious to be true. These
t"o conceptions of the league are so
INVERSE so widely separated, that they
al never De reconciIed These two
SCHOOLS OF disputants will Doubtless
continue their interminahlc debate
upon the correctness of their respec-
ave interpretations. However, neither
/ contention is correct The lea1ua .,,;It
hsithef De euperstate or sovereign
nor helpless. powerless, association
OF nations.
ne instrument creating the 'qea qua
OF nations is covenant" artaraa
INTO ny sovereign states for tho No.
! I'm piishfnent Of certain purposes in
aesisnated ways. No nation surren-
aers It's sovereignty by becoming a
nieHner or the league one OF tho
asfiontes OF sovereignty is the abjlitv
"hr covenants or agreements
>"ne oi the members of the league
supocI,oe TO Undertakings which i'm
pa'f 'hefT sovereignty. Under mo
terms OF article / memhersbir l..
ieagne is confined to "any funv aa1,
governing state" That a state 70.
serves us full sovereignty when en-.
Ve''hG the league IL further emphasiy.
~ an" conclusiyely settled by thu
provision OF the covenant allowing amy
'lehl per upon giving two-years' notice
:" us intention, to withdraw from the
league No nation super or otherwise
ever mus expressly provided means
'or It's dissolution. The right 10 tor
inmate the obligations assumed nv tho
signing or the covenant ia eYnressr
osefFed' the same as Is frequently
~ ttte '' the execution OF treaties
h's covenant. ratified by the SEN
YOU'D De no more nor less than
"a treaty iegalixed under our constt
tuition. The one impairs orr &C.,
efelgnty no more thap.tbe o,h.r r.
may be commended that II {. unw,i.a 70
'SSuhle some of the obligations which
are created by the covenant hut I,
- ahsaro 10 contend that II, ratifvirr
'A'S covenant we impair in anv w.v
1"i haHohaI sovereignty The cove
maui eieariS avoids the creation 81 n
sopers,a'e 10 dominate as suprera
SoVere'gn the affairs OF the worIa
n'gh Standard for Members
Nheh Inc nations now excIudea
nave reformed. have organized stable
r., "selhfhehts' capable of performing
a,n,'i national obligations. and give as
oIancs mat their membership will be
helpful and not detrimental thev MI,
he admitted In the end !, ,s bons
,hat the henefcence OF the league viii
ne extended to all nations ana nao'
pte. ne league as constituted is 50
VI" hE that dangers from the forp,a
.loh OF another league. antagonistic
70 ", are ALMOST negligible. No nation
"ouid venture into SO hazardous an
enterpf Sc. The dangers to the success
OF This les ne will come from within
never from ~'thout. Nations win ha
desirous of M n~hin in order N
snare It's unmistak~ 10 benefits.
Except where : wise pro-
Nloed IN this covenar decisions
any meeting Of the mbIy
or or the council shall reou ne
agreement OF all the members
the league represented At The
meeting
Thus the action of the rearua r,,x,
De unanimous, except where exnresslv
PROVIDED otherwise in the coyer,r, A