Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1919 — THE HUGHES AMENDMENTS [ARTICLE]

THE HUGHES AMENDMENTS

In an address before the Union League club of New York last night, Mr. Charles E. Hughes suggested several amendments to the league of nations covenant mainly designed to uphold the Monroe Doctrine, to relieve the United State from enforced administration of foreign territory, and to eliminate the joint guaranty of the independence of member nations. Doubtless these amendments will be considered along with the others that have been proposed. Nor is there any doubt that the constitution will be changed in such a way as to’meet most of the Hughes objections. The speaker of last night is not, be it observed, an enemy of the principle underlying the league idea. If he had been he would not have bothered hims'elf with the work of trying to perfect the covenant. Mr. Hughes is a sincere and honest man, and if he were opposed to the league he would say so, and would fight it. Men may disagree about the covenant, and also about the changes that are needed to make it right, without disagreeing as to the desirability of international co-operation. The purpose, and the whole purpose of Mr. Hughes, as revealed in his address of last night, is to get a league that will operate effectively and at the same time not infringe on our nationality or sovereignty. We think he was quite right in saying that mistake had been made in "giving the impression that the document was a finished product, with a good reason for its choice of expressions, when later it was found necessary to excuse it as a hasty draft which required revision.” Certainly nothing was gained by the President and other friends of the plan by their insistence that it was final. -Rather something was lost. They very fact that the covenant was made public was of itself almost equivalent to proof that it was only tentative. Tor surely the President must have known that therff would be discussion, and that the discussion would restilt in demands for changes. It would have been better if these had been frankly asked, for then there -would have been co-operation rather than opposition. In such cases much depends on the 1 temper of the people, and their state tof mind. Many were no doubt offended by the President’s stand for the covenant as originally offered as something that must be taken or left; for he said that there was no sent-

ence in it that had not been written in for good reasons. However, it is now agreed on all hands that amendments will be made, and that every effort will be made to meet honest objections. Of course, nothing can be done to win the support of those, like Senator Borah, who are opposed to any league. But the support and co-operation of. such men as Mr. Hughes and Senator Lodge are not only worth having, but are necessary to the success of the plan.—lndianapolis, News.