, 1923-10-25
Interpreting the Interpreters

"The halcyon and vociferous announcement ~
made that the league of nations is TO nave us
covenant Interpreted" notes the Boston Trans
crint mThe league itself through its secretarlat,
has selected a commission Of eight eminent )ur-
lists. from eight Of the nations represented IN iIs
council, who are to null over tine mPecGapio
instrument and determine what 1t means Inns
il good news to tho world, which has long peeh
wondering what is the actual purport OF the COW
enant; all the moro since several recent cases
of what looked like trimming and dodglng on
the part of the league itself, or like floutlng ana
defying its authority by some OF its members
The manner OF the achievement also commands
keen interest, since it seems to be a clear case
of lifting oneself by the bootstraps, me me- leas Hb'
viously makes it certain that the Interpretation
will be satisfactory.
ait will be recalled, however, that at Its for
nation the league itself was proclaimed to be
the universal Interpreter. 1t was to interpret
everything that needed Interpretation for every
body that wanted anything interpreted. 1t was
to interpret international law, and all treaties.
It was in interpret the Monroe Doctrine for the
United States and let us know for the first time
In a hundred years Just how much-or, more
probably, how little-that document meant. 1t
was even to interpret the constitution OF the
United States to us, far better than hamilton
and Marshall and Story and Webster were ever
able, in their narrow nationalism, to do. And
yet now, early in it's shining career, 1t finds Its
own constitution, the sacrosanct covenant 70
modify which by so much as the dott1ng OF an
4 or crossing of a I would be rank sacrilege-
to be in need of radical Interpretation. Truly, 1t
In a good thing to have n sense of humor.
at is also to be observed that the league
thus purposes to do for itself that which it would
not let others do for themselves. 1t revolted, for
example, at the mere thought of Americas inter
prcting the Monroe Doctrine, or the constitution
Of the United States, or of two nations interpret
ing for themselves a treaty which had been made
between them. All such matters must be submit
ted to its supreme authority. No mere nation
could be its own interpreter. Yet 1t is to be itself
the interpreter of its own covenant. Doubtless
that is because there is no other authority in the
world capable of doing the job. Omnisciencc
alone can divine omniscience.
"But now a fearsome speculation intrudes It
self upon the mind. Suppose the Interpretation
of the covenant given by this octuple commission
proves to be lacking in clearness and thus to need
clucidation-to be itself interpreted-what is to
be done? Shall somebody else be appointed to
interpret the Interpretation? That would seem
to be logical. If the league itself, which was to
be the worlds supreme interpreter, must be in.
terpreted, what other and necessarily lesser
thing can claim exemption from the same pro
cess? II is already agreed that the interpreter
must be interpreted. Then the interpreter that in.
terpreted the interpreter must be interpreted.
Then the interpreter that interpreted the inter.
prefer that interpreted the interpreter must be
interpreted; and so on to the nth power of in.
depreciation. 1t is a lovely prospect"