The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-06
PUBLIC OPINION
MAIN FACTOR IN
NATIONS LEAGUE
Senator Lewis Warns Coun-
try to Make Conflict Be-
tween Present Allies Impos-
sible.
(RV Associated e.reSs


WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.--Public
opinion and not military force should
and will be the chief factor in enforc-
ing DEGREES of a league of nations,
Senator Lewis, of Illinois, Democrat,
declared today in an address in the
scenate. II was public opinion. he
said, that brought about the defeat of
Germany and it is to public opinion
that the world must look in the future
to preserve peace.
Senator Lewis said that because of
the demands that may be made by
some nations as against others, the
successful operation of the league may
furnish greater cause of apprehension
than 1t failure to function.
Illustrating, he said: in Asia,
Japan, taking China in her guardian
ship. will solicit Britain and France to
demand Of US as a faithful ally the
adjustment of exclusion OF the Asiatic
from our citizenship. And if these
European allies decline, they become
the victim Of Japan's natural discrim
ination in trade If they consent and
successfully prevail upon us, promptly
will they exact of Japan and her asso-
ciates to command US to take down the
barriers Of obstruction to Europe in
South and Central America-called the
Monroe doctrine. From all these our
tomorrows are filled with perils and
our todays with warning.
Insist on Free Seas.
I'VE must insist now on unrestrict-
ed freedom Of the seas | define this
for the United States to be an open
sea, free ports, free harbors, to us, to
the same extent any nation extends
to it's own people and as extended by
the United States to other nations.
feel that as to us a free Suez canal as
to Britain and free Mediterranean as
to France is due in exchange for our
making our Panama canal and Manila
Bay fre to these nations. From these
demands we will run counter to self
serving interest long preserved by
these people as their policy of COM
mercial preservation. For us to de-
mand the abandonment of these means
confusion and embarrassment, from
which can follow what has followed
from similar situations in past years
conflict.
Il may not live to see the develop
ment of this anticipated danger, and it
may never arise. On the other hand,
there are those in my country, who
feel that II these dangers which ap-
prehend should arise, that the conced-
ing Of the demands which may be
sought to avoid these dangers would
be small in their loss compared to the
great gains which through all the
time preceding we would enjoy from
the policy inaugurated and established
by this league
Warns Against Danger.
Referring to President Wilson's mis-
sion abroad, Senator Lewis quoted a
biblical passage in which Moses was
warned against making "a covenant
with the inhabitants of the land
whittier thou goest. lest it be for a
snare In the midst Of thee
II put before the country this warn
ing" said Senator Lewis. that in the
past the great wars of the world have
been conducted between those who
previously were allies, and grew from
the execution of compacts of peace, so
called. of those who were called the
allies.
Il will not be blind to this pros
pect even as between ourselves and
those we now call the allies. 1t is be-
cause OF this that speak to provide a
method in the hope that when these
things do arise the consequences may
be minimized 10 where war may be
avoided "