East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-08-08
BY l. c. MARTIN

visions of the peace treaty must stand
the brunt of the attack by senators
who demand reservations and amend
ments as the price of their vote for
ratification.
Chief among these provisions i.
Article Ten of the League of Nations
covenant. The text OF this clause fol.
lows:
.'Article 10.-The Members of
the league undertake to respect
and preserve as against external
aggression the territorial integrity
and existing political indepen-
dence of all Members of the Lea
que. In case of any such agrees
sion, or in case of any threat or
danger of such aggression, the
council shall advice upon the
means by which this obligation
shall be fulfilled
Those demanding elimination OF
Article Ten, or at least a reservation
by the United States respecting it, de-
clare that the article obligates the
United States, under the advice of the
League council, to join in wars every
where for preservation of the exist
ing boundaries and stability of pre-
sent governments, They declare it
binds the United States to make war
at the order of a body composed of
eight foreigners and one American,
and that this clearly is an attempt to
rob congress of its constitutional power
of declaring and waging war.
Those defending the article insist
that the obligation incurred is not a
legal one, but merely one of honor;
that the United States need not ac
cept and act on advice of the coun
Gil unless it feels that course is proper:
that the article, while obligating this
government to respect the territory
and independence of all other powers,
also obligates each of them to respect
the United States territorial integrity
and political independence.
On Monroe Doctrine
The next provision is that referring
to the Monroe Doctrine. 1t reads:
ARTICLE 21-Nothing in this
Covenant shall be deemed to af-
feet the validity of international
engagements, such as treaties of
arbitration or regional under
standings like the Monroe Doc
trine, for securing the mainten-
ance of peace"
This article does not protect the
Monroe doctrine as an American pol
lev. many senator's declare, because IL
does not properly. define the doctrine
They assert that the Monroe doctrine
is not a regional UNDERSTANDING" but
a distinctly American foreign policy.
They want a reservation to the effect
that nothing in the treaty shall be
constructed to imply REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States of it's traditional
attitude toward the submission of It's
lpolicy regarding what it deems to be
purely American questions to the deci-
sion or recommendation of other pow
ers.
Administration senators reply that
Article 81 is in fact a recognition for
the first time by the great world pow
ers of the Monroe doctrine. and that
the League Covenant itself in erect
extends the principles of that doctrine
to the whole world
The third provision against whlch
objection is made is that relating 10
domestic questions. In this case. IL is
an alleged conflict of two provisions
which has caused the demand Tor
tamendment or reservation. These TWO
provisions follow:
article 11.-Any war or
tbreat of war, whether immed-
lately affecting any of the MEM
hers of the League or not, is
hereby declared to be a matter
of concern to the whole League,
and the League shall take such
action that may be deemed wise
ard effectuaI to safeguard the
neace of nations. 1t is also de-
clared to be the friendly right OF
each member of the League to
bring to the attention of the AS
sembly or the Council any cir
| cunstance whatever affecting in
\ tarnational relations which
threatens to disturb international
neace or the good understanding
hetween nations on which peace
depends" ~
.sArticle Is. paragraph eigh)
IF the dispute between the par
tias Is claimed by one of them ana
Is found by the council to arise
! ont of a matter which by interna-
tional law is solely within the
domestic Jurisdiction of that party
the Council shall so report, ana
| shall make no recommendation as
to it's settlement
Domestic Questions
Those demanding reservation
making plain the refusal of the Unit
ed states to admit that the League ma
jurisdiction over domestic question
like immigration, the tariff and regu
lIation of coastwise trading, declar
ltbat Article Eleven authorizes the Lea
lgue to take jurisdiction. They poin
Ito the language ''any war or threa
of war" and "any circumstance whai
lever affecting international relations
i'm proof of their contention. Tnes ~
sist that the quoted paragraph
Article Is does not prevent the Leagu
taking Jurisdiction, il war is threat
ened BY a dispute over guestio
which lies purely within the domesti
Jurisdiction of one party, but to IN
handling or which under such Jurls
|, ldiction, the other party seriously OF
ljects. The immigration question
cited as an example. While recognis
, ed by some international law expert