New-York tribune., 1920-12-06
Argentina's Protest

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Argentina's action at Geneva
brings into the open dispute con-
Quoted briskly behind the scenes ever
since the League Assembly organ
lied. The Argentine government
wants to have the league covenant
amended in important particulars.
1t is for a peace league, broadly
speaking, as against a Versailles
Treaty enforcement league. This
happens, incidentally, to be also a
German conception.
Argentina regrets that the cove
nant and the treaty were entwined
and interlaced, as President Wilson,
before he started back for Paris
brusquely told the American people
that they would be. To most Ameri-
cans it has always seemed blunder
that peace settlement wasn't made
first and league Of nations created
afterward. That was the procedure
contemplated in the House-Bern-
storff negotiations in 1916 for Amer
lcan mediation and "peace without
victory" It was the logical order
At Paris a settlement was delayed,
and after nearly two years renal :
uncertain Of execution, largely be-
cause the League of Nations expert
ment was intertwined with terri
torial, financial and other war liqui-
datiors.
The United States SHE'D at enter
ing the league because it thought the
co"enant, as it stood, imposed unnec-
obligations. Argentina ac-
cepted membership with the inten-
ton of securing revision within the
league. This country's objection to
the covenant has been that it goes
too far in limiting national freedom
Of action. Argentinas complaint is
different. The South American re-
public isn't particularly opposed to
Article X. 1t wants to change the
character of the league so as to shift
the center of gravity from the Coun-
Gil to the Assembly, to include all
nations as members and to divest the
organization, as far as possible, Of
is present functions as a guarantor
and executor Of the peace treaties.
This is probably the view of
many Of the neutral states and Of
many Of the smaller states. They
are looking to the future and want
to vest in the Assembly, in which
they are strongly represented, most
e the controlling authority now ex-
ercised by the Council They chal-
lenge the provisions by which five
out Of nine Council seats are award
ed in perpetuity to the principal
Allied and associated" nations.
Argentina aims at nothing less
than revolutionizing the league
charter. But she is already discov-
ering how barren the process OF
amendment is. Amendments cal
take effect only when ratified by the
members Of the league whose repre-
sentatives compose the Council anc
by majority Of the members whose
representa tives compose the Assem-
BY. To get an amendment through
the Council would require a unani-
nous vote there, and the government
If any one Of the 'princlpal powers
could thereafter refuse assent. Al
would probably reject chances mimi
cal to their interests and obviously
favorable to Germany.
Amendment is futile recourse il
there is lack Of unanimity. The only
other recourse Of a nation frutlesslS
seeking to make changes is with
drawal. The Argentine delegate.
have left their seats in the Assem-
bly,. 1t IS negative remedy Tho
Incident serves, however, to demon
strate how essential it is for nation.
which have changes in view to OBJ
tain them before entrance or to pro
ret themselves in advance agains
Objectionable provisions ~ suitabl,
eseYyations.