Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-04-01
CHAPTER XXXV-Continued

CHAPTER XXXV-Continued
CABLEGRAM.
The White House, Washington,
| March 81, 1919.
! President Wilson,
Paris:
The following letter from Hon
William H. Taft: II have thought
| perhaps it might help more If
was somewhat more specific than
I was in the memorandum note
sent you yesterday, and I therefore
inclose another memorandum"
Duration of the Covenant
Add to the preamble the follow
ing: from the obligations Of which
any member of the league may with
draw after July 1, 1929, by two
years notice in writing, duly filed
with the secretary general of the
league"
Explanation
I have no doubt that the construc
ton put upon the agreement would
be what I understand the president
has already said it should be. name
| ly that any nation may Withdraw
from it upon reasonable notice
which perhaps would be a year.
think, however, it might strengthen
| the covenant if there was fixed
duration. It would completely re
move the objection that. it is per-
petual in its operation.
Duration of Armament Limit
Add to the first paragraph of ar
ticle VIII, the following:
10 ffxYn wat
such limits of armament for the
several governments shall be re-ex'
amined by the executive council,
and agreed upon by them as in the
first instance"
Explanation
The duration of the. obligation to
limit armament, which now may
only be changed by consent Of the
executive council, has come in for
criticism. T should think this might
thus be avoided, without in any way
injuring the covenant. Perhaps
three years is enough, but I should
think five years would be better.
Unanimous Action by the Executive
Council or Body of Delegates
Insert in article ". after the first
paragraph, the following:
"Other action taken or recommen-
dations made by the executive coun-
ell or the body Of delegates shall
be by the unanimous action of the
countries represented by the mem
bers or delegates, unless otherwise
specifically stated"
Explanation
Great objection is made to the
power of the executive council by
majority of the members and the
body of delegates to do the things
which they are authorized to do in
the covenant. In view of the spe-
cific provision that the executive
council and the body Of delegates
may act by majority Of it's mem
bers as to their procedure, I feel
confident that, except in cases
where otherwise provided, both bod
les can only act by unanimous vote
of the countries represented. If
that be the right construction, then
there can be no objection to have
it specifically stated, and it will re-
move emphatic objection already
made on this ground. 1t is COM
plete safeguard against involving
the United States primarily in small
distant wars to which the United
States has no immediate relation. for
the reason that the plan for taking
care of such war, to be recon-
mended or advised by the executive
council must be approved by rep
resentative Of the United States on
the board.
Monroe Doctrine
Add to Article x:
(a) "a state or states Of America,
a member or members Of the league,
and competent to fulfill this obi
cation in respect to American ter.
ritory or independence, may, in
event of the aggression actual or
threatened, expressly assume the
obligation and relieve the European
or non-American members Of the
league from it until they shall be
advised by such American state or
states of the need for their aid"
Cb) ANY such American state or
states may protect the integrity Of
any American territory and the
sovereignty Of the government whose
territory it is, whether a member of
the league or not, and may, in the
interest of American peace, object
to and prevent the further trans.
fer of American territory or SOW.
ereignty to any European or non
American power"
Explanation:
Objection has been made that un-
der Article X. European govern.
ments would come to America with
force and be concerned in matters
from which heretofore the United
States has excluded them. This is
not true, because Spain fought Chile,
in Stewards time, without objection
from the United States, and so Ger
many and England instituted a
blockade against Venezuela in Roose-
velt's time. This fear could be re.
moved, however. by the first of the
above paragraphs.
Paragraph b is the Monroe Doc.
trine pure and simple. I forwarded
this in my first memorandum.
1t will be observed that Article
K only covers the integrity and in
dependence of members Of the
league. There may be some Amer.
lean countries which are not suf,
ficiently responsible to make it wise
to invite them into the league. This
second paragraph covers them. The
expression, European or non-Amer-
lean" is inserted for the purpose of