The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-19
American Freedom Depen-
dent Upon ,Europe's, He
Says in Senate Speech.
NATIONS LEAGUE A PERIL
FavOrs an Accord Established
by This War-Wants Peace
Conference Unhampered.
Special Despatch to THr srx.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The attt-
tude of virtually all of the Senate
Republicans and respectable num-
her of Democrats in that body toward
including provisions in the peace
treaty for a league of nations and
definition of freedom Of the seas"
outlined in the resolution introduced
recently by Senator Knox, was ex-
planned by the Pennsylvania Senator
in a careful speech to-day. The
speech followed q meeting Of the For
eign Relations Committee. where the
resolution was considered without
action by the committee.
1t developed Mt the committee meet
ing that a policy of "watchful wait
ing" on results Of the coming deliber-
ations at Versailles will be the Demo
cratic policy. Republicans to a man
are ready to vote now for the favor
able report of the Knox resolution
and it's adoption by the Senate. Demo-
Gratis of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, however. express timidity over
the situation. They said to-day that
they did not want 10 hamper the
American delegates by seeming to
dictate their policy In advance of its
enunciatiOn at Versailles.
The Republican comeback" to this
suggested policy by the Democrats
was that 1t was all very well to talk
about not hampering the develop
mcnt of the policies of the American
delegates, but 1t was somewhat hard
to discern at this range whether there
was any such thing as policy in the
minds of the American delegation.
VIII Demand Action.
The committee adjourned to meet
on Saturday. At that time the Re-
publ!cans will demand action. They
will be satisfied If the committee re-
! ports the Knox resolution adversely
or reports it without recommendation
at all
II the timdity of the Democrats
should carry them TO the point OF re-
fusipg to take any action the Repub-
licans are prepared to resort 10 the
rule of the Senate which permits OF 4
committee being discharged from fur
ther consideration Of measure, and
on this point the Republicans are as
sured that the fullest debate may be
forced in the open Senate whether the
I majority members of the Foreign Re-
lations Committee decide to pigeonhole
the resolution or not.
( The main issue in the minds of the
I Republican leaders, is the assurance OF
/ unlimited discussion Of the merits OF
| the league of nations idea and the
/ freedom of the seas programme in the
7 Senate To-day's address by Senator
/ Knox, delivered with gravity and force
was the beginning Despite the alleged
unwillingness of the majority to act
they must listen and in the listening
the voice of the opposition to America
conp!!cating herself abroad will he
borne home by the Republican Sen
ators.
} Senator KnOx's Position.
Senator Knox took the ground that
the issues to be decided first by the
peace conference were the issues OF
the war between the United States and
her allies on one side and the Central
Powers on the other. The issue of the
league of nations and revision OF the
established laws OF the sea were mat
ters at issue between the Allies them
selves and all neutrals.
Sepator Knox pointed out that or
the first point the making of the peace
there was unanimity among the Allies
Upon the other questions there was
diversity of opinion. He pleaded for a
restriction of the first efforts OF the
peace conference to the Fundamental
question of the establishment of peace
On the immediate duty of the con-
ference Senator Knox said:
1.-THE definite problem is:By what
measures as to restitution, PREPARATION
and guarantees shall we assure thai
the war now won shall stay Won; thai
the menace now removed shall stay
forever removed? Germane in a broad
sense is the question by what meas
ures OF safeguard we may make th'
recurrence of any similar menace il
the future most improbable Germant
too in this broad sense are certain
of the questions of the condition!
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