Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-08

to see.
Needs Only American Backing
The council, resolving loose and
large theories into clean-cut and mod
est practice, has been gradually rec
onciling the league, as an organized
world, with the ideals of interna-
tional interdependence, temporarily
obscured since 1914 by the shadows
Of the great war.
No one can deny that the organs
of the league have brought to the
service Of the forces behind those
ideals an efficiency, scope and varie-
ty of appeal that in 1914 would have
seemed incredible.
1t is common knowledge that pub
lie opinion and official policy in the
United States have for a long time,
without distinction Of party, been
favorable to international confer
ences for the common welfare, and
to the establishment of consultative,
arbitral, and judicial means for set
Ting international disputes.
There is no reason to believe that
the judgment and policy have been
changed Along these same lines
the league is now plainly crystalliz-
ing, as has been shown, and at the
touch of the United States the proc
ess can be expedited.
In no other way can the organized
world, from which the United States
can not be economically and spiritu-
ally separated, belt the power of pub
lie opinion to the new machinery, de-
vised for the pacific settlement of
| controversies between nations and
! standing always ready for use.
The United States government
should be authorized to propose, co.
operation with the league and par
titipation in the work of its assem-
bly, and council under the follow
Ling conditions and reservations:
! l. The United States accepts the
j League of Nations as an instrument
| of mutual counsel but it will assume
/ no obligation to interfere with
| political questions of policy or in.
/ ternal administration of any foreign
state.
In uniting its efforts with those OF
other states for the preservation OF
peace and the promotion of the com
mon welfare, the United States does
not abandon it's traditional attitude
| concerning American independence
| of the old world and does not con
I tent to submit it's long established
policy concerning questions regard
ed by it as purely American to the
recommendation Our decision of other
/ powers.
II. The United States will assume
no obligations under Article x, in its
| ~ nj in oo ant 11o1n c
in any particular case congress has
authorized such action.
! The United States will assume no
| obligations under Article XVI. in its
present form in the covenant or in
its amended form as now proposed,
unless in any particular case con-
gress has authorized such action.
The United States proposes that
Articles X and XVI be either drop
ped altogether or so amended and
! changed as to eliminate any sugges-
! ton of a general agreement to use
coercion for obtaining conformity to
the pledges of the covenant.
III, The United States will accept
no responsibility and assume no obi.
cation in connection with any duties
imposed upon the league by the
peace treaties, unless in any particu-
lar case congress has authorized
such action.
". The United States proposes
that Article I of the covenant be con-
strued and applied, or, if necessary,
redrafted, so that admission to the
league shall be assured = any self
governing state that wishes to join
and that receives the favorable vote
Of tWo-thirds of the assembly.
V. AS further condition of it's
I participation in the work and coun-
sells of the lea9ue, the United States
asks that the assembly and council
consent-or obtain authority-to be-
gin collaboration for the revision
and development Of international
law, employing, for this purpose, the
aid of a commission of jurists. This
commission would be directed to
formulate anew existing rules of
the law of nations, to reconcile di-
vergent opinions, to consider points
| hitherto inadequately provided for
but vital to the maintenance of in
ternational justice. and in general to
define the social rights and duties
of states. The recommendations Of
the commission would be presented
from time to time, in proper form
for consideration to the assembly as
to a recommending if not lawmak-
ing body.
Must Inclue All Powers
Among these conditions Numbers
[ and II have already been discuss
ed. Number II is a logical conse
quence of the Refusal CT the United
States senate to ratify the treaty of
Versailles, AMI CT the settled policy
of the United States which is char
acterized in the first reservation.