New-York tribune., 1919-04-28

edly existed in the case of certain
federal states, and therefore proposed
the above solution as the best pos
slble in the circumstances.
The fear was expressed that the
article on procedure might be inter-
prcted ms implying that state would
be required to diminish the protection
already afforded to the workers by
its legislation as result of the adop-
ton of recommendation or draft
convention by the conference. and a
protocol was added in order to make
1t quite clear that such Interpretation
was inadmissibc.
Two Abstain from Voting
at should be added that the Jap
anese delegation abstaincd from voting
on this article. as they had not vet
received instructions from their gov
eminent in the matter The Italian
delegation also abstained y on the
ground of the inadequacy Of the pow
ers given to the conference"
The articles on enforcement provide
machinery whereby state which fails
to carry out it's obligations arising un-
der the article on procedure, or which
tails to enforce convention which it
has ratified, may be made subject to
economic measures. This machinery
is summarized in the report as follows:
An industrial association of en-
ployers and work people may make
representations to the International La
Dor once which the governing body
may at its discretion communicate to
the state complained of for it's obser-
vatlons. If no satisfactory reply is re-
celved, the governing body may publish
the correspondence which in most cases
VIII probably create sufficient pressure
by public opinion to cause the com
plant to be remedied.
'Ihe governing body also has the
power, either on its own motion or.or
receipt Of q complaint from a povern-
ment or from a delegate to the con
terence, to apply to the secretary gen
eral OF the league Of nations to nom
mate commission of inquiry For
the purpose OF such inquiries. each
hlgh contracting party undertakes to
nominate one employer, one workman
ana one person of independent stand |
ing, and each commission shall consist
ol one person drawn from each of these
report on the facts, recommend the
steps which should be taken to meet
the complaint, and Indicate the eco
nomc measures, If any, which it. con
slders would be appropriate in the
event of the condition complained Of
not belng remedied.
Procedure of Appeal
Appeal may be made to the per
manant court Of international Justice
Of the league Of nations. which shntl
have power to review the findings Of
the commission. If the dufaultine
state Tails to carry out the recon-
mendatlons Of the commission or the
permanent court. rs the case may be
Wlthlh The specified time. it will then be
open to The other states TO take Tho
economic measures ndehted apniiiet
IT,
ut VIII be seen lhAt the atoye n,o.
eedHfe has been carefully devised in
order TO avoid the imposition Of nen-
sltihs, except IN the last resort, when
state has nsgfanlly and persistenLiV
refused TO carry out lis obligations I'm
der convention, II can hardly he
doubted that 1t VIII seldom, If ever, be
necessary TO bring these powers into
operation, put the commission consider
that the fact Of their existence is
nsvertheless matter of almost vital
Importance to the success Of the
scheme. '''N
The representatives of the working
ciasses IN some countries have pressed
thelr delegates to urge more drastic
provisions in regard to penalties. The
COMMISSION, while taking the view that
~ VIII IN the long run be preferable
as we'll as more effective to relv on
the pressure of international public
opinion rather than on economic meas
ures, nevertheless considers it ncccs-
ssary to retain the possibility of the
latter IN the background. If all forms
OF sanction were removed, the effect
Neness OF the scheme. and, what is al
most equally important, the belief in