Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-13
A VAST DIFFERENCE

THE great and essential thing
about the plan contained in this
Constitution for a League Of Ma
tons is that it makes international
conferences on political questions
compulsory in times of danger" Elihu
Root wrote when asked for his opin-
ion. He then declared himself in OPP
position to the requirement Of Article
Ten ito respect AND PRESERVE as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence Of all members OF the
League" He thought it should be
stricken out. He did not believe the
United States should leni itself to a
pledge to maintain in perpetuity the
distribution then being made by the
Allies. He thought it would prove
necessarily futile. Events support
that opinion!
The proposed treaty between this
country, England, France and Japan,
applies onl2 to small part of the
world. And while the islands Of the
Pacific, which are the territory COM
prised, could easily become source
Of international misunderstanding
and trouble, they are not the part
where today the greatest friction Is
found. Yet the Conference evidently
has considered the advice Of Mr..
Root as sound in principle and the
proposed treaty, Article provides:
If the said rights are threatened by
the aggressive action Of any other
power. the high contracting parties
shall communicate with one another
fully and frankly in order to arrive
at an understanding as to the most
efficient measures to be taken, Jointly
and separately, to meet the exigencies
Of the particular situation"
Thus it is seen that 1.-THE great es-
septial thing. making compulsory a
conference between the contracting
powers, Is included but 1t in no way
binds the members in perpetuity-
the contract runs for ten years-nor
does it place in the power of any SUI
per-government the right to demand
that the contracting parties shall
unite to preserve the territorial integ-
rity Of the territory 50 affected. They
shall confer and arrive at an under
standing themselves. And in the case
of this country the prerogatives Of the
Senate and the requirements Of the
Constitution would exert their proper
influence in arriving at an under
standing"
All this is plain enough to the man
in the street or in the field, Other
than in that great and essential
thing" making conference compul-
sorry. 1t is not comparable with the
League Of Nations. Attempts to
make it SO appear are futile; people
will look for the Council. for a super
government, and will not find it; they
will look for infringement of the
Monroe Doctrine and will not find it.
BorNh, himself. will find such an at
tempt ridiculous; Senator Reed will
be unable to find the hands of the
United States tied by the gentleman
from LIBERIA although he doubtless
will object that the vote Of Japan, If
cast with those of France and Eng
land, will tie the hands of the United
States, but so far as we can see there
is nothing to tie them with other
than the overworked imagirations of
the "irreconcilables."
And this isn't an irreconcilable
year, not an irrcconcilable admins
tration and we do not expect the ir-
reconcilables to defeat the adoption
of the treaty by the Senate with a
two-thirds vote. promptly taken.
49, ~sen-~---