New-York tribune., 1918-11-26
International Body Will Not
Have Power to Interpret
Monroe Doctrine
Senate Insists on
Being Represented
Let Whole Membership Go
and Ratify Treaty, Says
Cummins, Derisively
By Carter ield

WASHINGTON. Nov. 25.-It devel-
oped to-day that if President Wilson
will, in defining precisely the sort of
league of nations that he favors, con-
sent to several very sharp notifications
Of the idea as it is generally under
stood he may obtain measure of sup
port from the Senate.
The most important modification is
that the Monroe Doctrine must be rec
ognized by all the nations as a funda-
mental principle, so that no question
to which the Monroe Doctrine would be
applied should ever be referred to the
league or TO any tribunal which the
league might set up.
This would eliminate the possibility,
it is pointed out, of any such question
as the purchase of Magdalena Bay by
Japan from Mexico being submitted to
q world court.
Chairman Hitchcock of the Foreign
Relations Committee, for instance,
while he does not go the whole length
with the President, hopes that some,
understanding between the nations may
be reached st the peace conference
which would make future wars impos
sible.
Autocracies Destroyed
at occurs to me-" he said to-day,
chat for the first time in the history
of the world We have eliminated all
autocracies-the one kind of govern
ment which reached out in a spirit of
conquest and provoked wars and
therefore we have apparently reached
a point in history where it may really
be practicable to prevent wars in the
future.
"In this war the three grasping, con-
quering, autocratc and war provoking
nations of the world, Russia, Germany
and Austria, have collapsed. In their
places will eventually be, we al hope
and expect, very different governments.
Surely it ought to be possible to take
advantage of this change in the rela-
tions between the nations of the world
to do something to prevent war in the
future. | am not at all sure just how
not favor submitting the Monroe Doc
trine, or any question which might
arise under it, to any league of nations
or to arbitration of any sort"
Another very prominent Democra it
was learned to-day, favors at least two
leagues of nations, his opposition to
the Presidents plan, as it has been un-
derstood in the Senate, being based also
on fear of the possibility of a decision
against the United States on some ques
tion pertaining to Mexico, Central or
South America.
He would have all of America, North
and South, combined in one league Of
nations, while Europe would have a
J league of it's own. This would not only
, keep Europe from having a hand in any
question arising on this side of the
Atlantic, but it would prevent the
United States from being embroied in
would be avoided, he pointed out, the
possible contingencies objected to so
strongly by Senator Reed in his recent
speech to the Senate. Mr.. Reed dwelt
at length on the prospect of American
boys being forced to give up their
| lives in quarrel to adjust the from
tiers of some of the new nations being
set up in Europe
This Democrat, whose name and posi-
ton will carry great weight in Europe
when he speaks and who is expected to
set forth his views very soon in a series
of speeches, has never before taken issue
with President Wilson on any question
Of Importance
Senate Seeks Part
AS result of the growing certainty
that President Wilson will send no
member of the Senate to the Peace Con-
ference, there is a growing disposition
that the Senate must be represented
Independently of the Peace Commits
sioners, SO that those who represent it
at Versailles can report to the Senate
and advise it as to reasons for the
various steps taken by the Peace Con-
ference when the Senate reaches the
task of ratifying the peace treaty.
One proposal to-day by several very
prominent Foreign Relations Commit
tee Senator'S was that Vice President
M etrc n all sh ou1j ai+bor oIo,.