THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17139, 19 April 1919, Page 9

THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

REVISION OF COVENANT.

RIGHT TO WITHDRAW GIVEN.

ARMAMENTS TO BE REDUCED.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 6,5 p.m.) LONDON, April 17.

An official summary of the covenant of the League of Nations is attracting attention. The redrafting has admittedly made it clearer than the original draft, notably regarding the constitution of the league, which comprises an assembly representing all tho covenanting nations and a council representing the five Great Powers and four others, as the Assembly may select from time to time. The text gives greater prominence to Labour requirements, obligations concerning the white slave traffic, and the opium traffic, and public health. It specifically declares that the covenant does not affect the validity of international engagements such as treaties of arbitration or regional undertakings like the Monroe Doctrine 'for securing the maintenance of peace. Armaments Agreement. Under the redrafted covenant, tho covenanting States agree to reduce armaments. Plans for such reductions are to be suggested by the council, but to be adopted only with the consent of the States themselves, and thereafter armaments are not to be increased without the concurrence of the council. Moreover, the States contributing armed forces to deal with covenant-breakers are safeguarded in the right to decide how far they concur in the recommendation of the council the amount of force, if any, that should be supplied, while in regard to arbitration the council cannot interfere in a dispute solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the State affected.

Apart from pious generalities, the new draft of the covenant does not attract favourable comment.

The Daily Chronicle states that the new provision permitting the withdrawal, on two years' notice, of any State which kept its obligations, and the provision for the Monroe Doctrine should facilitate the adhesion of the United States. Although the Monroe Doctrine does no harm to the covenant, it will go far to destroy the permanent character of the league. Other amendments make it easier both to transform and to leave the league. The summary gives only shadowy supervision over armaments. Perhaps the full text will bo stronger on this point. . The most critical point is that the draft demands unanimity for decisions both in council and assembly. It seems Utopian to hope that none of these States will ever cherish a design against the league or their neighbours. A free vote would be a ready weapon for this purpose. The new draft is distinctly, perhaps decisively, inferior to the old. Menace to Umpire Feared. The Morning Post satirically likens the position of the Monroe Doctrine to the tree of knowledge, and proceeds to ask whether agreements and arrangements within the I j British Empire, for instance preferI ence, will be subject to the super- ! vision of the league. If so the league covers a design to prevent closer union, and may even disintegrate the Empire. It would be monstrous if the covenant were signed and established before the text of the provisions had been fairly considered by the public and Parliament. The Daily News says the league at least offers a chance of the reduction of armaments, arbitration, safety against secret negotiations, and some measure of justice for Labour, but in the constitution of the new council, which will manifestly be controlled by the five Great Powers when thev arc in agreement, there Is an undoubted peril of the continuance of the old exclusive alliances in a new form.