El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-10-26
PRESIDENT OF LEAGUES COUNCIL
SAYS ARTICLE x IS NOT ESSENTIAL

IN NOPE significant contribution to the league Of nations
N controversy has been made during the present cam
n than that Just given out BY the president Of the eoun
ell Of the league Of nations Leon Bourgeois He might De
accused by some extreme partsans especially oy pIesiaen
wilson and his most earnest adhersnt Of unVaranted IN
-. IN tbs American election But any is en-
+if1s7 to have an opinion and to express Il unless
~ .,s accented custom Of restriction sucn as tna -1
o.is the lips Of diplomatic officer N foregn l-
Whether the declaration Of president 4o : 1;I "a
f or not If Is certainly illuminating and II is hAy
sve considerable effect the course OF events
~; 1ssf ssI- Of the campaign As elected presiaeal u
the council Of a representatives, OF lns = - ale
league his word certainly not DC oisll9SSe = -
M i1I considered remark While not undertaking % ssA
officially for the nations IN the league OF IoI tns
of the council the president Of the council
,5g t5s ords when commenting publicly on matters q
vital interest to the world The atltuoe OF me
states toward the league is generally hela Q oe :.
isterest-to the rest Of the world II not 50 NUN ~ ~
co5seo1saty. the following dispatch is worth an ez-
.sptioHal amount Of publicity night now;
Brussels Belgium Oct 25.-Leon Bourgeois pIsAl
dent of the council Of the league OF nations taing
to American newspaper correspondents Asl Hsn.,
sid 4hat article Of the covenant Of the league OF
nations is not considered by European satesen As
vital and essential element Of the covenant
III Bourgeois said he had been surprised that
article had caused 50 mue1 eaotlon n - e-
States He stated that article 4 could pe enllnAtse
without in any way modifying the effectiveness Of
the league Of nations.
Article reads as follows;
Tts members Of the league undertake to respect and
preserve as against external aggression the territorial IN
ferrity and existing political Independence OF al members
Of the league IN Of any such aggression or IN case o.
nv threat OF danger Of such aggression the council shan
advise upon the means By which this obligation shall be
fulfilled
Not only does the article itself state that It is an obga-
ton but president Wilson, While asserting that the section
does not infringe upon the constitutional powers OF the
American congress- also asserts that the moral o9hgtion
the section imposes would be superior to any legal obga-
ton He virtually says that he the American congress
would have the legal right to decline to act IN accord with
the instructions Of the council nevertheless It would be II
duty bound to do so violate the international code and
forfeit the respect Of the world
President wilson has repeatedly said that article
IS the heart Of the covenant; that the covenant and the
league would Be worthless without IT. How his view s to
be reconced with that Of the president Of the council Of
the league is not clear to the ordinary nan.
II there Is room for 90 complete and vital difference
Of opinion 70 what the covenant and what Il IS
for surely there to be al the Why the
United States should at this time refuse &c adhere to the
covenant and decline at any time to adhere to any inter
national engaFsment which does not square with American
ideals and established policies.