The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-31
On Monroe Doctrine.


Mr.. Root proposed that the Monroe
dostrine-"the United States traditional
attitude toward purely American ques-
tlons'-he withdrawn from decisions
or recommendations of other powers
IN a paragraph inserted In the league
constitution Immediately before the sig
nature Of the American delegates. He
passed this suggestion upon Americas
contemplated entrance into the league,
not because Of any need Of old world
AID In preserving peace In the western
hemisphere, but In compliance with the
request Of the 'peaceable nations OF
Europe that the United States place its
lower n Influence behind theirs to
lessen the possibility Of wars "in their
part Of the world" without scuh an
amendment, he continued, surrender
Of the Monroe doctrine Is Inevitable
under the terms Of the covenant.
The leagues provision for compulsory
International conferences on political
questions in times of danger was CLASH
fled by the former secretary as a great
step forward" But the schema was
not carried far enough, he said, It
should rot merely suggest but compel
arbitration of all justlfiable questions,
including those affecting honor and ex-
Guiding, only those OF policy or politics.
He added that the drafters OF the
league plan, In leaving to dlsputants the
privilege Of submitting to arbitration
questions which they recognize as
suitable for submission had set the
entire subject OF arbitration back
where 1t was rs years ago"
Instead Of perfectlng and putting
teeth into the system OF arbitration
provided for by The Hague conven-
tons" he stated, they have thrown
those conventions upon the scrap heap
He Cited the efforts of the Grant, Ar
thur, Harrison, Cleveland, Mckinley,
Roosevelt and Taft administrations to
advance the cause OF arbitration and
confessed he could not, without protest
'see the judgment OF three generations
Of the wlsest and best OF American
statesmen ooncurred in by the wisest
n best of our allies, thus hold for
naught."
Back Up French.
Along with compulsory arbitration,
Mr., Root urged adoption OF the sugges-
ton OF Leon Bourgeois, Of the French
given powers OF inspection and verifica~
ton to make effective the proposed
general agreement for reduction of
ornaments to the lowest point consist
ent with the national safety OF each
member. Without a weapon such as
this, he claimed, the disarmament COM
nations whose public officers would re-
gard Ii as a duty to conceal and mis-
lead" and the whole effort to secure
future peace would go for nothing"
The former senator advocated defi-
mite arrangements In the covenant for
keeping international law up to date
for revision OF the instrument itself,
by provision for n conference OF the
signatory powers, on the former sub
ject within two to five years, and on
the latter question five to ten years |
hence. One OF the leagues weaknesses,
in It's present draft, he declared, was
Its failure to assure perpetuation Of the |
progress Of present and past genera
lions In the development and application
International law, He saw the or
ganization in the immediate future In
the light Of IAN alliance Of approximate |
~ one-half the active world against or
for the control Of the other half"
In view OF uncertainty as to when
or upon what terms the central or
powers are to be admitted to
the league" he commended that the
obligations Of the members must