New-York tribune., 1918-12-19
Knox Urges
Alliance, Not
World League
Believes U. S. Power Would
Be Best Exercised i'm Con-
junction With Its Allies
S'Why Hurry?'' He Asks
Declares Function of Peace
Conference Is Purely to
Settle Issue With Enemy
BY Carter ield

By Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-America's s
day of isolation is over. She should
have q voice in such European and
other foreign questions as might affect
her eventually, if not Immediately.
This can be obtained by All understand
ing or alliance with Great Britain
France, Italy and Japan that America
would be consulted on questions which
obviously would involve her eventually.
1t cannot be obtained by a hetero-
gcneous world league of all nations.
Joining a world league which would
bind the United States to go to war
would transcend the powers of her
Congress, since the constitution lodges
the right to declare war in Con
gress, and, of course, no Congress can
bind a succeeding Congress.
These are a few of the ideas set
forth by Senator Philander c. Knox, in
urging to-day in the Senate his reso-
luton which would declare the senti-
mcnt of the Senate in favor of post
poning the formation of any league of
nations until some time subsequent to
the adoption Of the peace treaty.
Resolution Goes over
Mr.. Kncx's speech followed a long
session of the Foreign Relations Com
mittec over his resolution, which, at
the moment Of adjournment, owing to
the convening of the Senate, had not
reached any decision. The committee
will hold a special meeting on Satur-
day to consider the resolution. Mr.
Knox and his supporters on the COM
mittec are anxious that it be reported
to the Senate, instead OF being pigeon
holed, as is desired by the Administers
ton supporters, because it is the be-
! lief of Mr.. Knox and of most of those
favoring the resolution that, while It
might easily command majority in
the full Senate, it is not at all certain
that a majority of the members of the
Foreign Relations Committee favor it.
There was no opportunity to-day for
q test Of the Senate, either on the
Knox resolution or or any other phase
Of the league of nations controversy.
Pittman Takes Issue
At the conclusion of his speech. Sen
e or Key Pittman, Of Nevada, a Demo
cratic member of the committee, and
a thick and thin administration man.
look issue with the Pennsylvania Sen
ator, asserting fatty that the peoplt
did not agree with the Knox reooiu-
on, and concluding with the state
nent: "There is no constitutional
authority for the Senate to ADVISE the
sole negotator of this country witt
regard to the method that he snail
adopt or the procedure he shall adopt
with regard to these negotiations. Not
alone is it useless, but it is a usurpa
ton Of the authority that the people
cf this country have invested in the
sole negotiator OF treaties"
Chairman Simmons, of the Finance
Committee, at this point forced the
Senate back to the consideration of tbs
revenue bill, though there were Sena
tors who wished to ask Mr.. Pittmar
what he thought the words in the con
stitution, "by and with the advice ant
consent of the Senate" meant with
regard to treaty making.
New American Doctrine
Here is the road we have travelled,
said Mr.. Knox. "The United States O
America slowly, but in the end yer.
clearly, perceived that q menace to Eu
rore by the dominion of aggressive
military power was, in this nineteenth
century, a menace to the safety of thi
nation. America manifested this per
ception by throwing its entire powe
into the scales to join in the sup
preston of that menace of Europe b.
military imperialism.
"Can we not perceive emerging fror
these facts a new American doctrine
| will state this great new doctrine i
these words: If situation should aris
in which any power or combination o
powers should directly or indirectl
menace the freedom and peace of Eu
rope, the United States would resar
such situation with grave concern as
menace to its own Freedom and peac
and would consult with other powel
affected, with view 20 concerted &
ton for the removal of such menac
of this had been the avowed az
understood policy of the United State
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