Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1919 — THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS [ARTICLE]

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

COVENANT TO BE PART OF THE VERSAILLES PEACE TREATY. (Louis H. Hamilton.) Have you read the sixteen articles of the League of Nations that have appeared iiri the Republican? If so, do you find anything in these articles which create a super-sovereignty? The covenant does NOT create a super-government outranking those of member states or maintaining armies to over-awe them; but it pledges the members to maintain a Condition of international morality akin to that maintained by every civilized state within arts own borders. The covenant does not destroy the Monroe Doctrine. On the contrary, the Monroe Doctrine for the first time in history is expressly recognized by all thtf nations that are members of the league, and its .principles extended to the world by means of the provisions that the territorial integrity and political independence of all nations shall be preserved. Everyone, who was in favor of our participation in the war; everyone, who thought that the war was between autocracy and democracy, should favor the ratification of the Paris peace treaty and insist upon the inclusion of the covenant of the League of Nations. The League of Nations provides for the rule of right and democracy. It has for its purpose the perpetuation of the triumph won by the soldiers of free nations upon the battlefields of Europe. As these heroes carried on in their fighit against oppression, the league continues the fight against wrong. The peace treaty names the conditions necessary for peace, the Covenant provides for the carrying into full force and effect the provisions of the treaty. Any kind of a treaty may be forced upon the conquered nations, but itt will take the League of Nations to execute the provisions of the treaty. The war won made the world safe for democracy. The League of Nations will keep it safe for democracy. American soldiers were the deciding factor in winning the war. Will American statesmen turn that glorious triumph into a defeat by refusing Jto make provisions to perpetuate the blessing of liberty to all mankind made safe by the defeat of Germany? ■-" ' ' , .

7 Our soldiers fought Prussianism because of the inhumanities it beeped upon Belgium, France, Poland and other weaker nations. They fought and many of them died that the Would might be made safe for democi racy. But their great thought was that they were fighting that there ' might be no more wars. The following articles of the covenant are worthy of the most thoughtful consideration: Article XVII tn the event of a dispute between a member of the league and a state which is not a member of the league, or be- | tween states not members of the league, | the state or states not members of the league shall be invited to accept the obligations of membership in the league for the purposes of such dispute, upon such conditions as the Council may deem just. If such invitation 1s accepted, the provisions of articles XII to XVI inclusive shall be applied with such modifications as may be deemed necessary by the Council. Upon such invitation being given, the Council shall immediately institute an inquiry into the circumstances of the dispute and recommend such action as may seem best and most effectual in the circumstances. I If a state so invited shall refuse to 1 accept the obligations of membership in the league for the purposes of such dispute, and shall resort to war against a member, of the league, the provisions of article XVI shall be applicable as against the state taking such action. If both parties to the dispute, when so invited, refuse to accept the obligations of membership in the league fßr the purposes of such dispute, the Council may take such measures and make such recommendations as will prevent hostilities and will result in the settlement of the dispute. Article XVXXX. Every convention or international engagement entered into henceforward by any member of the league shall be forthwith registered with the Secretariat and shall as soon as possible be published by it. No such treaty or international engagement shall be binding’until so registered. . Article XXX. The Assembly may from time to time advise the reconsideration by members of the league of treaties which have become inapllcable, and the consideration of international conditions whose continuance might endanger the peace of the world. Article XX. The members of the league severally agree that this covenant is accepted as abrogating all obligations or understandings inter se which are inconsistent with the. terms thereof, and solemnly undertake that they will hot hereafter enter into any engagements inconsistent with the terms thereof. In case members of the league shall, before becoming a member of the league, have undertaken any obligations inconsistent with the terms of this covenant, it shall be the duty of such member 4o take immediate steps to procure its release from such obligations. Article XXX. ? Nothing in this covenant shall be .deemed to affect the validity of international- engagements such as treaties of arbitration or regional understandings like the Monroe Doctrine for securing > the mairtenance of peace. (11