The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-06
HE SEES DANCER
Lewis Speaks Against a League
Of Nations Now.
Says 1t Is Not Best for United
States and Allies.

Washington, Dec. 6.-Public opinion
and not military force should. and will.
be the chief factor in enforcing de-
crees of a league of nations. Senator
Lewis of Illinois, Democrat, declared
today in an address in the senate. 1t
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 pre-
serve 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 for apprehen-
sion than it's failure to function. IL
Illustrating, he said:
PeriIs Are Ahead.
"In Asia. Japan. taking China in
her guardianship, will solicit Britain
and France to demand of us. as a
faithful ally, the adjustment of ex-
clusion of the Asiatic from our citizen
ship. And if these European allies de-
cline, they become the victims of
Japan's natural discrimination in
trade. If they consent and success
fully prevail upon us, promptly VIII
they exact of Japan and her associates
to command us to take down the bar
riers of obstruction to Europe in South
and Central America-called the Mon
roe doctrine. From all these our to-
morrows are filled with perils and our
todays with a warning.
I'VE must insist now on unrestricted
freedom of the seas. I 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 us
own people, and as extended by the
United States to other nations. l feel
that to us a free Suez canal as 10
Britain and free Mediterranean as to
France is due in exchange for our
making our Panama canal and Manila
bay free to these nations. From these
demands we will run counter to a self
serving interest long preserved by
these people as their policy or COM
mercial preservation.
For us to demand the abandonment
of these means confusion and en-
barra ssment, from which can follow
what has followed from similar sit
uations in past years-conflict.
May Not Come Soon.
IT 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 if these dangers which
1 apprehend should arise. that the
be sought to avoid these dangers
would be small in their loss compared
to the great gains which thru all the
time preceding we would enjoy from
the policy 1naugurated ana eStaDllSneu
by this league"
Referring to President Wilson's
mission abroad, Senator Lewis quoted
a biblical passa ge 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
warming" 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 prospect
| even as between ourselves and those
! we now call the allies. 1t is because
| of this that I speak to provide a
method that in the hope when these
things do arise the consequences may
! be minimiZed to where war may be
| avoided