Evening star., 1923-04-20
COVENANT
CHANGES POSSIBLE

The assembly of the league Of ma
tions would listen to any proposals
made by the United States for amend
ments to the league with an open
mind" Lord Robert Cecil, adviser to
the British delegation at the YER
sailles peace conference and CO.
operator with former President Will
son in working out the league
coyenant. said today upon his arrival
i'm Washington.
Lort Robert made It clear that any
proposal of amendment OF the league
covenant. or revision. such as has
been suggested by Senator Pepper of
Pennsylvania and other Americans
in public life as means of bringing
about the entry of this country into
the league would have to come from
the government OF the United States
as government.
Only Proper Course.
In his opinion that would be the
only proper course, a course. by the
way. which Senator Pepper also ad-
rocated recently in making his suS-
gestion that the league could be so
amended that the United States might
enter.
Robert said. had pleased him greatly.
The interest evinced by Americans
in the subject of the league of ma
tions during his tour had been great.
Il do not. of course. seek to con-
vey any impression that | believe
time are desirous of entering the
league" said Lord Robert with u
twinkle in his eye.
In the opinion of Lord Robert there
has been too uch readiness to read
force" into the league covenant. He
& =
tention was called to the fact that
Senator Peppers proposal is to
divorce the league and force
There Is only one article in the
Article l6." he said. He said that he
believed the famous Article 10 had been
misinterpretcd very f~rgeiy-
Lord Robert Is strongly of the
opinion that Germany should become
a member Of the league of nations.
many would be admitted by the nee
esSary wo-thirds vote il she would
make application to Join. Three other
enemy nations, Austria, Bulgaria and
Rumania. he said. have become men,
bers of the league.
In reply TO question as to why
the league had not been entrusted
with the settlement of the trouble
over the Ruhr valley, Lord Robert
said no member of the league had
come forward with proposal that
the controversy be turned over to the
ultimately the league would be en-
trusted with the settlement of this
dispute and that it would be sue
CeSSful.
Distinct From Treaty.
The league of nations covenant is
distinct from the terms of the treaty
of Versailles. Lord Robert said in
reply to a suggestion that i'll some
quarters in this country the belief
existed that the league was intended
AZ An agency to carry out the pro-
visions of the treaty. The league, he
said, had accepted the handling of
the Saar valley and Danzig under
the terms of the treaty, and had been
most successful in those operations.
dent Harding has proposed the ad
herence of the United States. with
certain reservations, Lord Robert
said. was entirely distinct from the
league in it's operations.
Just as distinct. he said. 'as the
Supreme Court of the United States
is from the Congress, and more so.''
Lord Robert will be the guest Of
Henry White. a member of the Amer
lean delegation to the peace confer
ence and an old friend, while he is
in Washington. 1t is expected that
he will be received at the White
House while he is here:
During his stay he will visit former
President Wilson, and it is expected
he will talk also with Samuel Com
pers, president OF the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, whom he met fire.
quently during the peace conference.
Upon his arrival here this after
noon from Richmond Lord Robert
vert to the Hotel Hamilton. where he
was the guest Of honor at a luncheon
given by the Overseas Writers. To-
night he will be entertained at din
ner by Mr.. White and tomorrow
night at the British embassy by Sir
Auckland Geddes. When he leaves
Washington 1t will be to go to New
York. with a break in the trip to
visit Princeton, where he is to receive
an honorary degree.