Milford chronicle., 1920-10-15
ARTICLE q OF LEAGUE AND
SEC. 81 OF SHIPPING LAW

Washington President Wilson's
refusal TO act in accordance with the
directions of the new shipping law
relative to the abrOgation of treaties
so far as they prevent the United
States from enacting laws for the up
building of the American merchant
marine, is merely a part and parcel
of his entire international policy
which contemplates surrender of
Americas self-interest," declares the
Republican Publicity Association,
through its President Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., in a statement issued:
1T will be remembered that one
of his Fourteen Points prescribed
the removal of all economic barriers,
which could not mean anything else
than repeal of protective tariff laws.
This same policy he wrote into the
League of Nations covenant which, in
Article %, declares that the members
of the League will make provision to
secure and maintain freedom of COM
munication and of transit and equit-
able treatment for the commerce Of
all members of the league
keeping in mind this provision of
the League Covenant, let us observe
what the practical procedure would
probably be if the United States
should become a member. 1t is true
that the language of Article % does
not declare for free trade in so many
words, but there could be no free
dom of transit if protective import
duties were charged. The expression /
equitable treatment is vague in its
meaning and subject TO future inter-
~ fnIa
% being thus uncertain in its specif-
ic meaning, resort would be had to
the earlier declaration by President
Wilson in favor of the removal of
economic BARRIERS These two, TAX
en- together. would be interpretative
of each other and would justify the
contention on the part of any mem
ber of the league, that the United
States had bound itself not TO impose
import duties which would tend to
shut foreign products out of American
markets.
Having this plausible basis for
contention, Great Britain or Japan or
some other nation would start a con-
trOversy which would come under /
the provisions of Article Is reading
as follows If there should arise be- ,
tween members of the league any dis
put likely to lead to a rupture, which I
is not submitted TO arbitration in ac- r
cOrdance with Article 13, the mem ,
bers of the league agree that they 7
will submit the matter to the cOun- :
Gil. Any party to the dispute may eff 7
feet such submission by giving notice +
of the substance of the dispute to the :
Secretary General who will make all o
arrangements for a full in o
vestigation and consideration there 4
Of Although the league covenant +
does not expressly make tariffs sub s
ject over which the league would have Il
jurisdiction, yet all these provisions h
taken together have exactly that eff
feet o
Governor Cox has declared that he n
will fulfill all the promises President a
Wilson may have made relative to the "
league. The Democratic platform re- a
afirms the traditional policy of the h
party on the tariff question. which is h
hat a protective tariff is uncOnstitu- n
.ional. In his statement of principles
10 be observed in reaching a treaty of ii
peace, President Wilson had promised is
he removal of all economic barriers is
rhe success of the Democratic party N
Il the polls in November would, W
therefore,, be in various ways con- fl,
irmation of the theory that the Unit h,
d States deliberately bound itself to
'ield its right to impose protective
ariff duties if any other member of
he league should contend that such
uties interfere with freedom of tran
it, or with equitable treatment for
he commerce of all members of the at
eague.' IS
Every American voter who marks W.
is ballot for Governor Cox should ua
ear in mind President Wilson's at M
tude and representation to other IS
ountries, and the pledge of Governor l"
OK to fulfill everything that Presi- IN
ent Wilson has promised" III
We
,h