The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-05-22
A TIMELY TIP TO AMERI
CANS.

- LII - ~ AMEhl
CANS.
Under the title "The New Con
venant," Hamilton Holt, editor
Of the Independent, very pointed
ly and concretely gives the real
American view and direction on
the League of Nations in the fol
lowing editorial:
On Monday, April %, 1919, the
Peace Conference at it's fourth
plenary session adopted without
dissenting vote the Covenant OF
the League of Nations. The docu-
ment, which we publish iii full
elsewhere has been greatly i'm
proved in phraseology since it
was first tentatively given to the
world on February IA. More
over, most of the objections that
have been made to- it, especially in
the United States, have been spe-
officially met and we do not now
see how it can encounter any ser
ious opposition except from those
who would oppose any kind Of a
league.
Much of the criticism of the
Covenant has undoubtedly come
from the fact that it begins with
the machinery of the League. The
Assembly, the Council, the Sec
retariat, etc, are all in the first
few articles. Thus the impression
has undoubtedly gained currency
that an attempt has been made TO
set up super government which
all the nations that become mem
bers of the League must obey.
The fact is, the trainers Of the
Covenant have been scrupulously
careful not to limit national SOW
ereignty in the smallest degree.
The League of Nations is in no
sense the beginnings of worlds
state" which the historian Free
man has said when it comes into
existance will be "the most fin
ished and most artificial ptoduc-
ton of political ingenuity The
Covenant is rather contract in
which the signatory powers agree
to do Or not to do certain things.
The agencies by which these
things are to be done are not the
masters but the servants of the
confederated states. / have taken
the pains to go over the Covenant
article by article and-paragraph
by paragraph and l herewith set
forth in plain language what the |
covenant who enter the
League. / think | have not failed |
to enumerate any essential agree
ment.
/. They agree that war or the |
threat of war is the concern of |
all.
2. They reserve the right to
lake any action deemed wise to
the peace Of the world.
3. They agree that the making
If war contrary to the Covenant
shall be considered as an act of
war against all members of the
league.
4. They undertake to respect
md preserve each others terri
DRY and political independence as
lgainst external aggression. But
t is expressly provided that this
Ices not affect the Monroe Doc
rine.
5. They accord to each member
he right to call the attention oil
he League to anything that
threatens to disturb the peace of1
he world.
6. They agree that any mem
,er can bring about submission
Of its dispute to the proper organs
# the League by giving notice of
he existance of the dispute to
he Secretary General, who will
arrange for hearing.
Z. They agree to submit any
Ease likely to lead to war either
o arbitration or to Cancellation.
8. They will in no case go to
var until three months after an
award or the recommen-
lation Of the Council.
8. They will carry out in good
'aith any arbitral award.
10. They agree to take disputes
not submitted to arbitration to
he Council.
II. They will furnish a COM
plete statement of their case to