Evening star., 1919-03-26
LEAGUE CHANGES
PLEASE SENATORS
Opponents to Draft See Their
Stand Justified in Amend
e ments Adopted.

IitCIIlS HUODlCus
In official circles here today the ca.
bled ,advices from Paris reporting
amendments proposed and adopted to
the covenant of the league of nations
were classed as gratifying to the sena-
torial sentiment demanding revision of
the document. 1t was said that if pc
rusal of the perfected covenant bears
out the impression first received of the
effect of the amendments opposition to
the league will be materially abated.
Some senators, it was suggested.
| who are opposed to any league may
find the basis for their objections di-
minished, il not virtually removed, in
essential particulars. It was prophe-
sled that protesting senators may
| have cause to hesitate to advocate
| rejection of the league of nations
plan outright, in view of the amend
ing of It
However. those senators and others
prominent LII puDilC lie VINO uI6t
pointed out the necessity Of amend
ment and whose earnest and fearless
advocacy of their views, in the face
of presidential disfavor, will prob
ably find ample Justification. tt was
said. for their stand az we'll as per-
soneI satisfaction i'm the recognition
by the peace council of the points they
raised For while. the position Of
these senators WAX not unattended
with embarrassment. They were held
up by the partisan supporters of the
executive. the thick and thin party
map, as opposing d great humanfta-
rian project. s..
Monroe Doctrine safeguarded.
The league of nations commission.
the cables reported. had agreed to an
amendment purporting to safeguard
the Monroe doctrine. While acquiesc.
| ing in Lord Robert CeciI's contention
OF the unwisdom Of specifying any
an Individual nation. the amendment
as reported provides that agreements
I shall not be regarded as Infringe
ments upon the principles Of fnterna-
tionai policies heretofore generally
recognised.
to demand the protection Of the Nom
roe doctrine from the operations of
| the league. and he induced William
| h. TAFT to coincide with him. So
many senators Joined these pioneers
| In behalf of the cherished American
policy. with such an army of sup
| porters in the press and the public.
that 1t is thought the American dele
! gates were compelled to take coeni-
zance OF the feeling in this country
| ana yield pride of authorship in the
perfection OF the original covenant.
Immigration Issue Also Met.
| Another amendment characterized
| as gratifying to American sentiment
any country in the league to control
matters solely within domestic juris-
diction. This was designed to meet
| the immigration question, the infer
ence being that IT would dispose of
alleged undesirable immigration. SEN
| ators will want/to read the Language
| OF the amendment, however
! 1t Is pointed out that. while the
United States might claim immigra-
ton to be question solely within
domestic Jurisdiction, another coun-
try might set. up the counter claim
pride as a people lifted the question
Of immigration out Of the category 81
domestic problems and made 1t OF in.
ternattonal importance, to be dealt
With by the league. In that case
vote in nine. IL the league attempted
to take jurisdiction.
Disarmament Amended.
The amendment to the covenant re.
lating to disarmament Of nations viii
be studied with care. This amend.
ment as now drawn is said to limi,
the powers of the council to simplt
recommendation to the government,
as to the extent of disarmament
While this will be quite satisfactory
to the element in this country which
would resist any other power or CON.
cert of nations debating the size ol
the American Army and Navy. FORTH.
cations and munition plants, the cues.
tion is how will 1t meet the altruistit
demand for international disarma;
ment. This clause Of the covenan,
may sound rather empty, 1t is sug.
| gested.
After all these amendments ar,
passed upon rs satisfactory and meet.
ing the demands OFT sentiment in thil
country upon the specified subjects, i
was suggested today that there vii
remain the big question Of whethe,
the league of nations will perform tn,
function upon which is founded tn,
main argument for it's creation-''Wil
1t keep US out OF war;" Affirmatioi
that it will prevent world wars is tn,
foundation. body and superstructurs
of arguments urged in this country II
behalf of a league of nations.
4 Senator Knox on War Issue.
in seven provisions of the league wa,
is made legal and recognized a pos
sible and that in three provisions wa
is made mandatory in certain extgen
cies.
J The amendments are not eoNstrued
! at first glance. to remove these con
; ditions. However. the counter conten
! tion Is set up that whether the leagu,
J will prevent war is largely an AGA
demic proposition at best: that !
should tend to lessen the precipitatio,
Of conflicts between nations, and i
the so-called fundamental American