New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-05
SENATE PEACE
VOTE BLOCKED
Continued from page !

of a league Of nations to enforce peace.
But at the same time there is n rapidly
growing fear among people who are
Just beginning to think about this sub
ject that the abandonment of the iso.a-
tion policy carries with it the sban-
donment Of the Monroe Doctrine.
Mediation Unwelcome Lodge Says
The most important parts o. Senator
Lodges speech follow:
Il desire TO call attention 20 the note
Of the German government in reply 20
the Presidents note. There is nothing
said IN this note which corresponds TO
the statement of the German Ambas-
sador about the "Stsr of Bethlehem"
and the light cast by the Presidents
words. If we remove the very sppro-
pirate diplomatic civiities we find that
on the three essential points OF the
Presidents note, which were a request
for the naming of the terms and the
proposal Of neutral cooperation and
also a declaration as TO future coopera-
tion in n league for the preservation OF
the world peace, that the German note
is very explicit, almost blunt.
ct says nothing whatever about
terms. 10 says that the delegates OF
the belligerent states should meet in
a neutral place. That excludes neu-
trails from the conference. Ny own be-
lief is that the people who are fighting
the war should make the peace; and
that seems to be the German view.
Opposes Acting Blindly
"The German note says that the
question of cooperation and association
for the preservation Of peace in the
future cannot be dealt with until after
the conclusion of the peace in this war.
think that on that point the imperial
government takes a sensible ground,
which might have been anticipated.
"The Senate, in my judgment, has no
right-and have thought so for a long
time-to try 10 force itself into the
conduct Of the diplomatic negotiations,
and when it asks for diplomatic papers
its request is always accompanied with
the statement that the papers be sent
If not incompatible with the public
interest; in other words, il is recog-
nized that the whole conduct of the
negotiation is in the Presidents hands.
Nov, If the President has in his
possession the terms proposed by the
Central Powers il is entirely within
his discretion to deal with them, but II
we are to indorse in the dark every.
thing that he is doing, then, before &C
ton, we are entitled TO know the
grounds Of the action. In other words,
when our cooperation is invited we are
entitled to have the same information
as that which the President has.
Demands Inside Facts
owe are asked, in the presence Of
the reply from Germany and we do
not know whether her terms may be in
the hands of the President or motto
give a blanket Endorsement, wholly
blindly, TO this entire negotiation. !
am not contending in any way against
the Presidents right TO carry on nego-
/ tiations; / am not impugning his mo-
/ tives. But | am resisting, and | mean
/ TO resist, the attempt to bring the SEN
ate and the Congress of the United
States into blind approval Of nego-
tiation of which we know nothing eX-
I cept what we see in the newspapers.
IF VIC are to indorse and approve
any negotiation, then we are eatitled
TO know all the facts in regard to II.
We have not asked for tie facts, but
we are asked TO pass this general reso-
luton in the presence of that reply
from tine one side Of the pellgerents
which has answered.
What the Entente will say in reply
to the Presidents note IS not yet
known. The reply has not yet arrived
But the reply of the Allies TO the Ger
man note is before the world. | should
Ike 70 call the Senator's attention ia
the terms OF that reply and ask them
to consider whether, in view OF what
the Allies said to the German note, II
is an appropriate time for the Senate
and the Congress Of the United States
10 precipitate themselves into nego'
tiations OF which they know nothing.
Unwiss 10 Raise ENTITIES
Certainly from that note it is plain
that they 90 not accept the German
peace PROPOSITIONS. To venture into
negotiations which neither party mas
ASKED Us 70 begin and 20 force upon
the belligerents our good othees, when
neither party has accepted, seems 10
me unwise.
There is nothing in the German
note or the Allies reply 10 the German
note. it seems 20 me, to justify the
Senate and the Congress in embarklng
on tho perilous field of negotiations be,
tween European powers and in regard
10 terms which concern those powers
alone.
at is well 20 remember that Il IS not
desirable thing 10 create untriendll'
ness or ili-feeling in the minds Of the
movers involved in war on either side
The United States, if her true policy
is followed, will seek TO maintain good
terms with all.
1--WE 90 not want to find ourselves a.
the end Of the war, when peace comes
without a friend IN the world among
the other nations, and with the facts
olaring them in the eyes that we have
made uncounted millions out OF wal
which has cost them millions OF ives
and destroyed untold millions OF prop
erty. / think we should move with ex-
IRENE caution before We enter, as the
/ legislative body of the United states
upon this perilous field.
Asked TO Abandon Policies
I've have not had the assent Of the
| belllgerents TO what we arc under
! taking. We have demanded that the
! belligerents state their terms, which
concern them alone. and not Us, and We
| h.ve upderfQk ken to Law out a policy Tor