Imperial Valley press., 1919-04-14
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
DEBATE AT BOSTON
Continued from Previous Issue)

Je&i bSAi 1911 ctiit DuI we are
not thirsting to interfere in every
obscure quarrel that may spring up
in the Balkans.
Mr.. Taft says that the Covenant
should be made more definite by
larger reservation of the Monroe doc
trine." | agree entirely. | offer that
as my third constructive criticism,
that there should be larger reserva-
tion of the Monroe doctrine, and wher
the leading advocate of this draft
takes that position it seems to me it
cannot be very unreasonable one.
Denies Foreign Jurisdiction Over I'm
migration.
There is the question Of immigra-
ton which this treaty reaches under
the nonjusticiable questions. | am
told and | believe q have followed it
through all the windings) that
final decision could only be reached
by unanimity, and it is said that the
League would not be unanimous. |
think that highly probable, but deny
the jurisdiction. | cannot personally
accede to the proposition that other
nations, that body of men in eX-
ecutive council where we as ma
tlon have but one vote, shall have
any power, unanimous or otherwise
TO say who shall come into the Unit
ed States. 1t must not be within the
jurisdiction of the League at all. 1t
lies at the foundation Of national
character and national well-being.
There should be no possible jurisdic-
tlon over the power which defends
this country from flood of Japa-
nese, Chinese and Hindu labor
The tariff is involved in the article
for the boycott. The coastwise trade
is involved in Article XXI. | think
duties. They say it is a domestic
ton; but they are domestic quas-
Moreover-and know some peo-
tion-having other nations medd!c
with our tariff runs up against 4
provision of the Constitution. the
Constitution provides that all reVe-
nue. bills shall originate in the House
of Representatives. Now | do not
offer that as final objection No
doubt we could amend our Constitu-
tion to fit the League, but it would
take some time; and ! think it is
better to steer clear of the Consti-
tuition in cases like that.
And offer an amendment, already
proposed by Senator Owen of Okla
homa, an ardent Democrat, and a
supporter of the League, to exclude
international questions of the char
acter of immigration and the tariff
from the jurisdiction of the League.
present that as a fourth construc-
tive criticism.
No Provision for Getting Uut.
This Treaty is indissoluble. There
is no provision for withdrawal or ter
mination. in the old days-very old
days-they We're in the habit Of be-
ginning treaties by swearing eternal
friendship. which made them last no
longer. That has been given up. In
modern times almost all treaties that
we now have contain provisions for
termination or withdrawal on notice.
If there is no provision for with
drawal you are thrown back on de-
nunciation or abrogation by one ma
ton.
] have been surprised to hear in
the Senate and elsewhere the state
ment that this was only a treaty and
that we could abrogate it by an act
Of Congress at any time-as we can
under the decisions of the Supreme
court
Why. ladies and gentlemen. nothing
could be worse than that. No great
er misfortune could befall the peace
of the world than to have a nation
especially a powerful nation, abrogate
the treaty 1t is usually a prelimi-
nary to war. 1t is IN many cases,
at least. There ought to be some
provision by with withdrawal could
be effected without any breach of
the peace or any injury to the cause.
Mr. Taft says: "The Covenant
should also be made more definite as
to when its obligations may be ter
minated" | offer that as another
constructive criticism.
Mandatory Responsibility Grave.
| am obliged to move rapidly, for
my time is expiring, but there are
two great points that l cannot leave
wholly untouched.
One is Article XIX, providing for
mandatories. 1t does not say who
shall select the mandatory. The pro-
vision is, that nation may be Sc
lected to take charge of weak or a
backward people and be appointed
by the League to that work. 1t has
been suggested that we should take
charge of Constantinople; that we
should take charge of Armenia and
Mesopotamia and Syria. / am not