The New York herald., 1921-09-18
ARTICLE X..TO STAY,
IS HLEAGUES DECISION
Jurists' Report Shows How
Far Wilson Wanted to
Go at First.
ORIGINAL DRAFT GIVEN
Besides Guaranty 1t Said
Nations Should Agree to
Change Borders.
PRESENTED TO BRITAIN
Amendments Committee SAYS
Article X. Is Fundamental
Part Of Coevnant.
PRESENTED TO BRITAIN

Special Cable to The New York HERALD.
Copyright, 1891, by THE Nnw YORK HERALD.
GENEVA, Sept. 1.-THE final report
OF the amendments commission was
presented to the assembly of the
League of Nations to-day. 1t makes
no attempt to change the vital part
of Article X, and says:
Article X. is one of the funda-
mental articles in the system estab-
iished in the covenant. Only with the
greatest prudence can it be touched,
and then only if clear and pressing
reasons justify such modification.
The great political Importance of
the article Is that 1t embodies the best
part of the entire system, and because
it is a counterpart of the programme
for reduction of armaments. Limita-
ton of it's present scope can be calcu-
lated to alarm public opinion, perhaps
even to cause embarrassments to the
Governments"
New Light on Article X.
aHSiuueu III the report is statement
from committee of international jur-
lists headed by Sir Cecil Hurst of Great
Britain throwing some new and inter-
esting light on the history of the famous
article and emphasizing how far Wood
row Wilson desired to go originally
Inc Jurtsts give the text of the first
draft produced by Mr.. Wilson long be-
fore the Peace Conference and which
he presented to the British Government.
Although the jurists do not say so.
Great Britain apparently rejected it, pre-
sumably because, as worced, II not only
combined the famous guaranty, but also
included the proposition that the nations
should consent to having their own boun-
daries changed in the future by vote
OF three-fourths of the delegates of the
league.
In this way the world contracting
Powers were to guarantee one another's
political independence and territorial
integrity, but it is understood between
them that such territorial adjustments.
IL any, as may in the future become
necessary by reason of changes in pres
ent racial conditions and aspirations or
present social and political relationships
pursuant to the principle of seH-deter-
mnatlon, and also such territorial read
Justments as may, in the judgment of
nanded by the welfare and manifest IN
terest of the peoples concerned, may be
affected If agreeable to those people and
that territorial change may in equity in
volve material compensation.
THE contracting Powers accept with
out reservation the principle that world
peace is superior in Importance to every
question of Jurisdiction of boundary"
This special procedure and extraor-
dinary power" which Mr.. Wilson'S first
draft contained, the Jurists show, was
eliminated from all subsequent drafts.
but is adduced as showing that even it's
author never intended to guarantee the
status quo.
disappointment for Canada.
The Assembly here viii deny by reso-
luton any such meaning. but will re-
commit the league to the text of Ar
ticle X unchanged Canada. who has
tried to get the obligation removed, is
bitterly disappointed.
''If the little nations of Europe accept
such a guarantee and lat the big Euro
pean Powers assume it. 1t is all right,
but for Canada 1t Is preposterous." said
Charles ]. Doherty. Minister OF Justice
of Canada, TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
correspondent. He said he had stated
Canada's position once more before the
Assembly but admitted that there was
no chance of changing the Assembly's
decision here.
The only change. In fact, to which
the big Powers, consented, was in Ar
ticbes XII. and XIV. providing for the
judicial settlement of disputes, as well
as arbitration, in which the Interna-
tional Court of Justice Is appointed as
the judicial tribunal