Evening star., 1924-12-23
GERMANY'S ACTION
may HELPLEAGUE
Modification Move Revives
Talk of Reservations Sen.
ate Sought.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Gernany's effort to have the covenant
OF the League Of Nations modified 30 az
10 permit her to have freedom OF action
as well as freedom from obligation to
preserve peace by physical or economic
force is regarded here az likely to give
the Americans, who have been debating
the subject. their first concrete idea Of
what the league really means.
From the first the United States has
baked at the thought that the league
might, IL America Joined, involve
moral obligation to use force. The
league itself did not interpret Its Gov
enant on that point, and American en-
trance to the league TO a large extent
has been prevented by that very point.
Now Gerrnanys request will bring
forth definite expression not only of
the opinion Of the league but treaty
between Germany and the league which
defines the limit Of Germany's obltga-
tions.
May Prove Antf-Lea@ue Point
Should the league insist that Ger
many must agree to use physical or
economic force when some nation has
been unanimously declared by the
council to have violated the cove
nant and broken the peace OF the
world then the anti-league debaters
their long fight against American en-
trance was well worth while and that
the '1rreconcilable" viewpoint was
absolutely right.
Should the league, on the other
hand, admit Germany and give her
the right TO act as she pleases with
respect to assistance in a military
way, the biggest argument made
against American admission will
have been punctured, 1T is contended
by league advocates.
1t IL interesting to note that the
principle in the famous reservation to
article ten penned by the late Sena-
tor Henry Cabot Lodge Is made the
main condition by Germany, though
she asks not only a Limitation OF the
obligation to preserve peace, but
brings out the implications of another
article in the covenant relating TO
penalties to be imposed by the sew
eral powers against state which has
started or threatened war of ag
gression or injustice.
Provisions Never Invoked.
These provisions have never been in
voked, but in the United States this
has not been accepted as indicating
their lack of validity or potential
value in a crisis.
germany contention that Article
XVI of the covenant which outlines
the penalties to be imposed on state
breaking its pledges or carrying on
a war of aggression may bring on a
state of war is an interesting sequel
to the debate in the American Senate,
for the Berlin government says plain
Iy that blockade or embargo viii!
imply state OF war and Germany
wishes to specify that she may remain
neutral. This is the first time the
rights of neutrals have been brought
into play in connection with Article
XVI and it will mean a great deal OF
discussion bv the international law
yers before the German viewpoint
will be fully answered.
The United States will watch the
debate with more than passing in
terest because with the league con-
troversy moribund, SO far as political
parties are concerned, there may
come a time when the pendulum will
swing in another direction, and II
Germany has secured an agreement
with the league conditioning her
membership on certain reservations
the American government would be
able TO demand the same thing.
May Make Future Entry Possible.
From the viewpoint Of the league,
however, the question will be an
swered, not so much with the
thought of placating Germany or
giving the latter a special position,
II will be matter of self-preservs-
ton for Europe. VIII the peace OF
Europe be preserved IL the implied
obligations OF Article Y and Article
XVI are retained and Germany is left
outside the league or will the organi-
zation be strengthened by modifying
the covenant so as ultimately to make
Il possible for Germany and the
United States to enter? Thus far the
league has shown every disposition TO
want America and Germany admitted.
but the making OF special case
means that other nations may ask TO
be relieved of the obligation to pre-
serve peace by economic force. Ger
many has put the issue squarely be
fore the league.
Copyright. 1924