THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS COVENANT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 124, 19 February 1919, Page 7

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS COVENANT

"WILL PRESERVE PEACE"

INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL

co-operation IMPORTANCE OF MANDATORY PROVISION

By Telegraph-Press Assooiation-CoDvri?ht Paris, February IG. President Wilson, in submitting the draft of the League of Nations covenant, said the great thing about the league scheme was that.for the first time in history it gave tho hitherto, down-troddon element of civilisation a chance. Lord Bobert Cecil emphasised the fact that the scheme w.puld preserve the peace of the world with the least possible interference with national sovereignty. No nation would go to war till all means for the settlement of disputes wero fully tried. No nation would seek to disturb the territorial settlements arrived at in peace. It would do mors than forbid war; it would institute international cooperation, in place of international competition.

Mr. G..N. Barnes expressed great satisfaction with the scheme, in that it would institute altruistic principles in the settlement of international troubles. He eulogised the provisions for the reduction, of armaments and for the. international organisation of labour, • from Which he. prophesied great things. He regretted the absence of the-provision for an'international'force. M.- Venizelos supported the soheme. There were several references during the debate to the mandatory system. President Wilson,- ' when reading,from the draft, pointedly paused on the mandatory section, saying: "This has been carefully discussed by the representatives of the Powers, and their conclusions are embodied in the article." Later, one of the Hejaz delegates emphasised tie importance to them of the mandatory provision, claiming the right to select their own mandatory, ' '

Sir Joseph .Cook-and Sir Joseph Ward were' present—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ■•••■ STRAIN OF ARMAMENTS

PROVISION-. AGAINST INVASION.

'■■■■.•■ Paris, February 16. The reception of the covenant is marked by caution and hopefulness. There is 'a strong ■ underiying feeling that an earnest attempt is vital to Europe, because . the strain of competing in armamente will disrupt civilisation. The war lias sp shocked'. the moral of even the victorious countries that the old style of armaments is proved suicidal. ' But the league has not yet been created, and it will have critical hours before the covenant is adopted.

The worse danger lies in the FrancoAmerican differences. France nays:— "You forbid us alliances or armaments, and offer us only the league as a guarantee against the barbarous Germans, who have invaded, devastated, and. robbed us four times .in a -hundred years, and are coming yet again. We regard the league as inadequate, unless its members, America and Britain, guarantee to maintain armies trained and ready to sail within fourteen days for pur protection." Britain would probably agree to this; but President Wilson will not. He thinks the project could not pass the Senate. There the. matter stands.'.

■ ,51. Bourgeois fought hard in''the "'last days pf ,tho Commission's work for the inclusion of two clauses, one to establish it permanent. Military Commission under the league to control disarmament and act as a unified command in the event of trouble; the other to provide a permanent military and naval organisation for the execution of tho obligations under the covenant, and for immediate efficiency in armed meaaures in case of urgency.

Baron Makino, Japan, urged the.inclusion of a clause expressing in eifect the principle that all countries are free to all the peoples of the world. It was immediately made'plain that such a clause wa9 impossible, and the proposal was temporarily withdrawn. The Japanese delegates^will probably bow gracefully to the inevitable, though references to racial bars will be made during the discussion;—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.