The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-30
CUMMINS SCORES
WILSON PEACE PLAN
Iowa Sem" Says Proposal
V ] to "HeII
ar"
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a discussion Of peace, Senator Cum
Minis said he believed the United
States ought to have a seat at the
council table when the subject of pre-
venting future wars was under con-
sideration. He quoted from some
phases of the Presidents message as
to a desirable basis for peace with
approval.
Criticizes Presidents Plans.
The Presidents plan for a league
to enforce peace, Senator Cummins
criticised in severe terms. He said It
contemplated denial to any nation
OF the right to redress its own wrongs
or to maintain its own honor" He
said II contemplated complete cry
stallization, eternal fixity."
THE question, which the American
people must answer" said the Sena-
tor, referring to the league, ais wheth-
er they desire their Government to
participate in any such effort, with
the understanding that out of 1t is to
grow a league or nations or world
authority which will have purisdic.
ton, not only to settle all interna-
tional DISPUTES. but the power through
armies and navies to cosrce every
nation into acceptance of its awards
or laws"
hut One ConeIusion Possible.
Quoting at length from tn Presi-
dents utterances to show just what
the President meant Senator Gum
minis said but one conclusion could
be drawn.
at is that over all the nations OF
the earth there shall be a common
and supreme power which will not
only undertake to decide all the con-
troversies which may lead to inter-
national disturbances, but which,
having entered judgment upon them,
will compel obedience.
There is but one way in which
obedience can always>be compelled.
The protecting or rebellious nation
must be overcome by force Of arms.
Whose arms, may I inquire?
Arms Of Superior Power.
Arms OF the superior power, an
swer. This military force may be
contributed voluntarily by certain of
the nations which unite to form the
supreme power under the compulsion
only of a prior agreement or 1t may
be force organized In an involun-
tary way through the exercise of the
right OF taxation
He illustrated the dangers OF the
league by supposing a case where a
controversy arose between Great B-it-
ain and Germany. The league would
decide the controversy. Let IL be sup
posed, he said. the decision was in
favor OF Great Britain.
Then the United States you'd be
called on to furnish warships, troops.
arms. munitions. and mon-v to over
come Germany. He said the United
States IN such a case woulI PROBABLY
be drawn into the war, OIL. on which
side would depend what the people OF
this country believed for their best
interest.
Thought Full of Madness.
Going into other dangers of the
proposed league to enforce peace.
Cummins said:
ITO me the thought Is full Of mad
ness, and the very best that can be /
said of It is that 1t springs fAm an
intense desire for a peaceful world
and Is bottomed Upon a blind willing
ness to try any experiment, however
and hopeless"
He imagined a controversy between
the United States and Japan, with a
decision by the league lin favor OF
japan which we could not and would !
not accept II the plan were work |
able then, he said, there would be |
witnessed "a spectacle so monstroys
even IN A dream that ne hardly dare |
to describe II, that of our Own arma- !
ment belonging to the league being |
turned against us.
Senator Cummins held the Presi- |
dents plan for a league to enforce |