Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-25
LEAGUE s AUTHORITY
PUT To TEST BY
GERMANY REQUEST
Debate in U. S. Senate Re-
called by BerIin's "Res-
ervations" Plea
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

r1%llt. l92fb
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Ger-
many's effort to have the covenant
of the League Of Nations modified
so as to permit her to have freedom
of action, as we'll as freedom from
obligation, to preserve peace by ply
steal or economic force is regarded
here as 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 Stats
f, has baked at the thought that the
Eleague might, if America joined, tn
volVe a moral obligation to use
force. The league itself did not lii
terpret it's covenant on that point,
and Anrican entrance TO the league
to large extent has been prevented
by that very point.
Now Germanys request will bring
forth a definite expression, not only
of the opinion Of the league, but
treaty between Germany and the
| Germany's obligations.
The Question
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
covenant and broken the peace of
the world, then the anti-league de-
baters in the United States will feel
that their long fight against, Ameri-
can entrance was we'll worth while,
and that the 'irreconcilable" view
point was absolutely right.
Should the league, on the other
hand, admit Germany and give her
the right to act as The pleases with
respect to assistance in military
way, the biggest argument made
against American admission, will
have been punctured.
1t is interesting to note that the
principle in the famous reservation
to article ten penned by the late
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge is made
the main condition by Germany,
though she asks not only a limita-
ton of the obligation to preserve
peace, but brings out the implica-
tons of another article, in the cove
nant relating to penalties to be- i'm
posed by the several powers against
state which has started or threat
ened war of aggression or injus-
tice.
1 These provisions have never been
invoked, but in the United States
this has not been accepted as indi-
eating their lack of validity or poten-
tia1 value in a crisis,
Germauy on Article ~
Germany's contention that artIG3a
16 of the covenant, which outlines
the penalties to be imposed on a
state breaking it's pledges or carry
ing on a war of aggression, may
bring on a state of war; is an inter-
esting sequel to the debate in the
American senate, for the Berlin gov
eminent says plainly that a block
ade Of embargo will 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 IS,
and it will mean great deal of dis.
cussion by the international lawyers
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 politi-
cal parties are concerned, there may
come q 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.
The Leagues Position
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.
1t will be matter of self-preserva-
ton for Europe. Will the peace OF
Europe be preserved if the implied
obligations Of article 10 and article
16 are retained and Germany is left
outside the league, or will the or
ganization be strengthened by modl-
! fying the covenant so as ultimately
to make it possible for Germany ana
the United States to enter? Thus
far, the league has shown every dis
position to want America and Ger
many admitted, but the making OF
special case means that other ma
tons may ask to be relieved OF the
obligations to preserve peace by eco
nomic force. Germany has put the
issue squarelv before the league.