The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-05


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advance Of their being bound, the
terms of any treaties OF peace;
therefore, be It
RESOLVED, That when such treaty
or treaties Of peace relative to the
termination Of this war are trans
mitted to the Senate of the United
States for consideration It or they
shall at once and as soon as re-
ceived be made public. and that the
consideration of same and discus
sions thereto shall be in the open
session Of the Senate.
The resolution, without discussion
was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations along with Senator
Frelinghuysen's contribution, and the
address Of Senator Kellogg (Minn.) on
the League OF Nations.
Except for a few critical remarks
by Senator Reed (Mo.) on the last
day OF the last session and a brief
response by Senator Phelan CCal).,
delivered in an executive session of
the Senate. this presentation by Mr.
Kellogg marked the first serious eff
Tort at discussion OF the new. inter-
national problems by the Senate.
senator KelIoEs's Speech.
while l have no sympathy with
the tenets Of socialism, State or inter-
national, the growth OF this spirit has
been augmented by the abuses Of war
and l am willing to lift my voice in
favor Of league Of nations to main
tain peace" said Senator Kellogg.
But / am not in favor of an imprac-
ticable, I might say an impossible
scheme that I believe yet rests in the
brain Of the dreamer and In the womb
OF the far distant future
THE condition of the world Is far
better for the successful establishment
and maintenance Of such a league at
this time than ever before. would
have the world informed as to the
progress OF the negotiations and the
principal issues involved from time to
time between nations surrounding the
council table. It Is only in this way
that a healthy public sentiment can
be expressed and a peace arrived at
which shall meet the judgment of the
civilized world.
IF l am permitted to take part in
the deliberations OF the Senate upon
the confirmation Of the treaty Of peace
shall go as far as possible in sus-
tanning measures necessary to prevent
the recurrence of war, provided they
do not infringe upon those national
rights which believe all of us deem
to be necessary to the future pros
perity and happiness Of this people.
But II depends upon what we consider
to be u proper league Of nations.
IF you mean by a league OF nations
that there shall be established a world
Improvement with legislatures and
judicial tribunals-under which the
slgnatory Powers will be to some eX-
tent vassal states-with power to
legislate or interfere with internal
affairs. our foreign trade, our tariff
duties, our regulations of commerce.
the development and disposition of the
great natural resources OF this coun-
try. I say emphatically am not in
favor. and know Of no one except
possibly some extreme. impractical
dreamer who would favor such a
scheme.
Sentiment OF Statesmen.
~ have studied as far as possible
the public expressions upon this sub
ject during the war and I believe that
the great preponderance Of sentiment
Of the leading statesmen and pub
licists OF the world as we'll as all the
organs OF public expression is that
such a scheme or any scheme OF a
world government whose laws can be
enforced by international tribunals is
impracticable and inadvisable.
"I do not favor the establishment
OF any supergovernment over nations.
Nor do I believe, considering our posi-
ton, that 1t would be policy TO do it,
Furthermore, am OF the opinion that
under the principles OF our form OF
Government established by the Con-
stitution we have no power to enter
into such a treaty. The Constitution
Of the United States irrevocably vests
the Government in the legislative
branch, to be elected by the people.
the execution of the laws in the
executive branch and the judicial TO
construe those laws and to perform
other judicial duties"
The Senate sat until o'clock in
formally discussing the general prob
lem OF the peace conventions. There
is every prospect that tomorrow Will
witness a resumption OF the discus
sion.
The Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons at It's meeting this morning took
UP Senator Cummins's resolution to
send Senatorial delegation to YER
sailles. Senator Cummins spoke in ia
vor of his resolution, but the discus
sion did not 60 far. It developed that
the committee was much divided and
not along party lines In regard to the
expediency OF the proposed excursion.
CIemenceau Returns to Paris.