The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1921. AMENDING THE LEAGUE COVENANT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 1921. AMENDING THE LEAGUE COVENANT.

The recommendations by the League of Nations Amendment Commission appear to be in the right direction. Provision was made in the original covenant for amendments designed to meet defects and to improve the machinery so as to make the League more effective. There was not, however, at the time the organisation was brought into being, the remotest idea that the United States would refuse io join the League, in the creation of which President Wilson had taken so prominent a part, but the unexpected happened, the matter being made the test question of the ensuing Presidential election, when Mr. Wilson’s' party was decisively defeated. Although the Monroe doctrine was specially conserved by the covenant, the American Senate refused to accept Article 10, the reservation proposed by Senator Lodge being as follows:

"The United States assumes no obligation to preserve the territorial integrity or political independence of any other country, or to interfere in controversies between nations—whether members of the League or not—under the provisions of Article 10, or to employ the military or naval forces of the United States under any article of the Treaty for any purpose unless in any particular case the Congress which, under the Constitution, has the sole power to declare war or authorise the employment of the military or naval forces of the United States, shall, by Act or joint resolution so provide.”

The object of this, and certain other reservations, was to render the United States immune from the authority and jurisdiction ofthe League, the ultimate result being that America refused to become a signatory, and still holds aloof. The League Amendments Commission now recommends the complete elimination of Article Ten, a course which the Canadians advocated at th.e Geneva Assembly. While it is not absolutely essential that America should join |he League it is certainly most de;

sirable from every point of view, and if the elimination of Article Ten will satisfy America susceptibilities and lead to that great Republic becoming a member, a great advantage will be gained and the League will be so complete that its main object will be materially forwarded. The amendment, coming as it does from the League itself, should go far to convince the United States of the earnest desire of the members of the League to conciliate and not antagonise the nations, and it is to be hoped that the American Legislature will view the move in the right light, and throw the influence of the United States into the work of the League in promoting world-wide peace and concord. It is pleasing to note that an attempt is to be made to control the League’s expenditure. Jf this international organisation is to succeed in its work it should be a model of economy and efficiency, instead of an example of waste, extravagance and ceremonial display. The lavish expenditure of the past has been a serious blot on the business side of the organisation » and it is to be hoped that in framing annual budgets there will be a drastic priming of. the present scale of salaries and other expenditure in order to make the contributions as light as possible, and to emphasise that the value of the League is not to be judged by its outlines, but by the good work done by the members’ Amendments of the covenant require ratification by the Council and by a majority of the Assembly. Those now recommended are not likely to meet with opposition, but it would seem politic, before the amendments are legalised, to endeavor to ascertain from the American authorities whether they are such as will enable America to join, or whether further amendments will be necessary t’o bring the United States into the League.