Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-06
SOME GENEVAN TANGLES

'IhiE attempt OF 'nhrlCS j. DOhCrtE, Il
l. Canadian delegate at Geneva. to have
tn" much debated Article droppcd from
the "ngu" covenant should be pleasing to
thousands Of Americans. In this country
objection to the charter of international
partnership conferred chiefly in what was
i"Il I" be the mandatory nature of the clause
relating t" the territorial integrity Of nations
ANA threats or danger of aggression
But th"r" has just now entered into the
situation factor which renders the latest
current ot opinion at TIA" league hraduuartrrs
S"u"W hat confusing. In response to n uues-
tiom raised by the president of Switzerland
tn" committr" on the admission of new states
has undertaken to define explicitly the mean
ing OF Article y. According to the text of
this official Interpretation. 1T cannot be- too
strongly stated that Article y does not
guaraut"" III" territorial integrity of any
member of tn" league. All it docs is 70 con
denim external aggression on territorial in
t"gritE and the political Independence Of any
member Of the league, and to call upon the
council to consider what can be- done tv
resist such aggrcSSion.'
This analysis. if valid unuuestionobIy
leaves certain commentators on the lragur
friendly and uufrirndly. in curious posi-
tlon. If Article y is not. aftrr all, the
heart of tn" covenant, if il is Il pledge for
d"Iibcration rather than action. what is to
b" thought Of the emphasis Of Mr. Wilson
and others on the COcrcivc vitality vf the
provision?
On til" other hand if it's alleged "tccth"
ar" non"Xistcnt. was Republican objection
directed against protrnSions made by "A rival
political party rather than against a men
a"ing fact: And furthermore. if the article
i 50 innocuOuS why are some of the lcaruc
delegates themselves anxious for its OK
tinCtiunt
Moreover, it was pointed out some time
ago. and especially by tx Senator Rublcc
OF New Hampshire. that Article y was but
a drrlarative preparation for a much more
significant feature Of the covenant Artirln
NNl. In this section the responsibilities of
me league members regarding refractory
cations is clearly outlined. The method of
tn" economic blockade is explained and in
cas-" OF its faiIur" as penalty the war obli-
cations of tn" next situation are set forth.
II may prove. indeed that Article Y has been
OvCradvrrti i>ed.
Assuming, however. that Article Y.
whether rightly .or wrongly. is still held to
b" the offending rorrcivc feature of the League,
the amendment campaign will be well worth
watching. if only because of the light it is
hound to shed on the actual machinery Of the
league
That Mr.. lDoh"rtl action must he
embarrassing to thuN" champions of the
league who have intimutrd that Europe was
entirely satisfied with it is undcniablr. But
tn" paNSug" Of Tia" resolution would not
guarantee an effective amendment
Article NNNI is brief but highly impor-
tant. amendments to this covenant" -" runs
the toNt. twill take effect when ratified by
O." u,,ubcr$ Of th" league whose representa- .
tjY'> ""nNo>" tho council and by Il majority
Of the Mruhcrs Of the league whose repre-
.'utHI .,~ rUmpu>,' tn" assembly, - In other