The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-09-22
The People Are Not Misin'
formed About the League.

league OF nations by Republicans. Con-
trary to Col. Theodore Roosevelt's
charges that he Is maverick" and
docs not belong to our brand" he is
so truly Rooseveltian that he has gone
leans with actually lying about the
covenant.
He charges that the people are be-
ing deceived as 10 the meaning and
significance OF the league Of nations,
He complains that they are accepting
the Republican version which desig-
mates ii as a league OF war. instead
Of the benevolent Democratic interpre-
| tation which describes it as a document
| for the preservation Of peace. II would
not be surprising II Mr.. Roosevelt had
in mind the result of the Maine cleo
ton. No doubt some INSCRIPTIONS Re-
| publicans told the people Of Maine that
the league Is not all the Democrats
claim II is. and with very good re-
suits judging from the outcome.
1t is too late for either side to charge
that there is anything mysterious
|
lions. 1t was adopted in Paris on June
| 2S 1919. II was submitted to the sem
ate by President Wilson on July 10,
1919. II Is n brief document OF rs ar
! ticles. II was written In plain and
simple language Where II was intended
to he specific, 1t is specific, Where
| II was intended to be obscure. IL is as
indefinite as European diplomats could
make It. Where II is definite there
Is no difficulty In understanding 1t.
Where Il is indefinite. the public I'M
derstands It was intended to be OBJ
| soure.
The public has not been deceived as
10 the meaning OF article 1, which pro-
vides that any member OF the league
may. after two years. notice OF its in
tentlon to do 10, withdraw from the
league provided that all OF its in
ternational obligations and all of its OBJ
legations under this covenant shall have
been fulfilled at the time Of It's with
drawal"
The public understands from this that
member Of the league may withdraw
within not less than two years after
Il has given notice of such intention.
The public understands that the mem
bers themselves determine II the with
drawing member has fulfilled all It's
obligations under the covenant.
The public understands that Great
Britain has six votes in the league,
while the United States, along with
Cuba, Guatemala, Haiti. Honduras, LII
IBERIA and the other members, has but
one.
The public understands that the
league has authority to require the re-
duCtion OF national ornaments. and
after the plans for reduction have been
formulated. the limits OF the armament
OF the United States can not be ex-
oeeded by congress without the con-
currence OF the council.
There can be no misconception re-
garding the significance OF article 10,
which commits the members OF the
league to respect and preserve the ter
ritorial integrity and existing political
independence Of all members OF the
league against external aggression, 1t I'M
derstands from article II that any war
or threat OF war, whether imme diately
affecting any member OF the league OF
not" is a matter of concern to the
whole league, and that "the league shall
take any action that may be deemed
wise and effectual to safeguard the
peace of nations"
The public understands that in case
the council fails to reach unanimous
agreement that the members Of the
to take any action they consider neces-
sary.
There is no difference OF opinion re-
Earding article 16, which commits this
nation as a member OF the league IA
sever all trade and financial relations
and make war upon any member OF the
league that resorts to war in disre-
gard of its covenants. II commits the
members OF the league to support one
another in financial and economic meas.
ures under the provisions OF the league
The covenant has been printed ir
| pAIilpnitN lblIllF III I'll NhidAb anu db q
public document Nearly everybody has
read Il, and one person understands II
about as well as another.
The public Is not getting its opinion
! OF the covenant from what the oandi-
dates or politicians are saying about
; II. The public has read, dissected and
digested the covenant and formed III
conclusion from the covenant alone. II
is a question Of nationalism against in,
ternationalism. II is a question Of al
legiance to America or to the universe
The national Democratic convention
paved the way to escape making tn,
league OF nations the paramount issut
In the campaign by adopting Senator
walshs amendment providing for the
acceptance OF reservations which party
, leaders had spurned. We can see moth
ing OF politics in the covenant, It is 4
question upon which there Is a division
OF opinion, but unfortunately the di-
vision principally Is among Democrats
II the campaign Is to he distorted int
/ u solemn referendum on the covenant
the most solemn occasion Of it's brie
existence viii he on election day.
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