The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-08
ARTICLE XVI Of LEAGUE
WILL Be DISCUSSED At
FIRST ASSEMBLY To Be
HELD At GENEVA NOV u

portant questions to be considered by
the assembly Of the league of ma
tions first meeting, beginning No
vember Is, at Geneva, will be the
preparations required to enable the
league TO use, If necessity arises,
the weapon of international economic
and financial blockade contemplated
in Article XVI of the covenant
A memorandum by Sir Eric Drum
mond. the secretary general, now
being distributed to the members of
the league. and received here by the
league to enforce peace shows that
this question will come before the
assembly OH the recommendation OF
the league council in the form Of q
proposal to appoint a body 10 be
known as the international blockade
cJnmssion. The secretary general
suggests that this commission consist
of representatives nominated by the
colntljes entitled TO permanent mem
bership in the council, with the ad
1it.on " repre- rsentatives Of four other
members of the league selected by
the assembly for the purpose of study
ng the problem and settling the
general pan of action, the organi-
za!icn Of the more permanent machin-
cry required and the principles ON
which il should work.
This question is of peculiar interest
TO the United States, because one OF
the first problems such commission
would consider promises TO be the
method of rendering blockade effec-
tive against states which are not
members of the league. In report
adj pied by the council OF the league
IT the San Sebastian meeting in Au-
gust, VI. Thtoni, the Italian representa-
tive, stated: 1T should be clear that
the states members OF the league of
nations who declare the blockade
hage the right TO render it effective
but they have not the right TO force
the states who do not form part Of
the league to declare the blockade
themselves.
Article XVI provides that, should
any member of the league resort to
war in disregard OF It's covenants. all
the other members shall undertake
Immediately TO subject II TO the sever
ance of all trade or financial rela-
tlons and the prevention Of
Ill financial commercial or person.
al Intercourse between the nationals
ot the covenant-breaking state and
the nationals Of any other state wheth-
er member OF the league or not
and that the members shall mutually
support one another In the financial
and economic measures taken under
this article.
The use Of this weapon" says the
cumstances a specific duty imposed
by Article XVI. This duty cannot be
effectively carried out without great
loss OF time and efficiency unless
there has been considerable previous
preparation before the time at which
action is required.
situations might well arise In which
the knowledge that the weapon 10
ready for use would have very
salutory effect Many people think that
the league Is founded more upon good
intentions than upon cool considera-
ton Ok the stern realities OF inter
national trouble. 1t is. therefore, de-
sirable ON general grounds that while
the first meetings OF the council ana
the assembly should give the world
the positive hope OF removing misun-
derstandngs and promoting interna-
tional cooperation. they should also
show quite clearly that The members
of the league as a whole are deter
mined. II necessity arises. to enforce
their will by effective action ON any
particular country which In the cir
cumstances contemplated by the cove
nant detes the general verdict of the
world"
The memorandum calls attention to
one important difference between the
two forms of pressure economic and
military which the league may use.
as follows: Where member OF the
league resorts to war IN disregard o.
specified covenants all other members
OF the eague are by the covenant itself
specifically obliged to apply the eco
nomic weapon, They are not simi-
larry obliged to use their military
or naval forces In the latter case.
the Article XVI only provides thai
il shall be the duty OF the council
in such cases to recommend 10 the
several governments what effective
military or naval forces they shall
severally contribute"
The secretary general is OF the opin-
on that the article clearly contem-
plates that go far as possible. the
4, ssponsib ASy lot enforcing economic