242 THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE PEACE ch.

" The Assembly may from time to time advise thereconsideration by Members of the League of treaties whichhave become inapplicable and the consideration of inter-national conditions whose continuance might endanger thepeace of the world."

But alas! Article V. provides that "Exceptwhere otherwise expressly provided in this Covenantor by the terms of the present Treaty , decisions atany meeting of the Assembly or of the Council shallrequire the agreement of all the Members of theLeague represented at the meeting." Does not thisprovision reduce the League, so far as concerns anearly reconsideration of any of the terms of thePeace Treaty , into a body merely for wasting time ?If all the parties to the Treaty are unanimously ofopinion that it requires alteration in a particularsense, it does not need a League and a Covenant toput the business through. Even when the Assemblyof the League is unanimous it can only "advise"reconsideration by the members specially affected.

But the League will operate, say its supporters,by its influence on the public opinion of the world,and the view of the majority will carry decisiveweight in practice, even though constitutionally itis of no effect. Let us pray that this be so. Yetthe League in the hands of the trained Europeandiplomatist may become an unequalled instrumentfor obstruction and delay. The revision of Treatiesis entrusted primarily, not to the Council, which