The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-15
U N DE R W @ 0 D.
DEFENDS LEAGUE
As Step Toward World Peace
Without Sacrifice of Ma
tionaI Sovereignty.
MUSTN'T DREAM OF PAST
Conditions, Not Theories, Are
to Be Faced, Argues Ala
bama Senator.

Washington. July 15.-Character-
izing the league of nations as prac-
teal step toward world peace involN-
ing no sacrifice OF national sover-
eighty, Senator Underwood. demo-
crat of Alabama. urged In the senate
today acceptance of the league cove
nant without amendment or reserva-
ton.
1.-THE great causes of war" he said,
may be paraphrased In two words
National sel.lshness.' Until the civ
ilization of the world Is prepared to
dethrone it's own selfish ideals and
to recognize the rights of other peo-
pies, the causes Of war cannot\cease
to exist.
II am not prepared to say that the
adoption of the present treaty car
ries within itself the elimination of
these causes of war, or that in the
end there will be no more wars, but
do say that, within the folds of this
treaty, we find an agreement be-
tween the great nations of the world
that probably will in the future carry
the questions of national dispute to
court of final arbitration. and In
the horrors and injustices of war.
Il do not regard the organization
of the league as a super government.
No super government could exist
without power to maintain itself,
within itself. the league has no power
to levy taxes, and without revenue
a government cannot long exist. The
league has no power to raise armies
and navies, and without military
forces, 1t cannot defend itself. With
the right to withdraw, / feel that
there is no need to fear the danger
Gus surrender of any of the funda-
mental principles and rights of the
American people. Therefore, | am
willing to take 1t and try it, and hope
from the seed that is planted today,
in it's fruition the final peace of the
world may be found.
Life of League Depends.
Il am more interested in the prin-
ciples enunciated by the clauses re-
lating to the league of nations than
| am in the power given for its gov
eminent, for on those principles the
life OF the league must depend. |
would have been glad to subscribe to
d contract that would have arbitra-
rily limited the ornaments of the
world, SUCH a decree Is not found
within the contract, but there Is a
covenant that seeks to keep the
peace of the world. that authorizes
the executive council of the league
to consider how much the present
ornaments of nations should be re-
duced.
Another vital principle that we
are asked to agree to is that all of
the members of the league shall sub
nit differences between them that
are not capable of being settled by
negotiation before a tribunal to be
composed of juuges or arbitrator
agreed to by them, and after enter
ing into the arbitration, they are re-
CURED to abide by the award.
Greatest Principle.
But the greatest principle of the
league tending to keep the peace of
the world is that which declares that
the high contracting parties to this
treaty shall undertake to respect and
preserve against external aggression
the political independence and the
territorial integrity OF every member
of the league. Most Of the wars
that have been waged in the ages
that have passed have had as their
governing cause the desire to con-
quer and control another people, or
to expand the territory of the coun-
try that is the aggressor in the war.
Prevent the incentive for war grow
ing out of a selfish desire for aggres-
sion, as the overweening force of
this covenant will do, and few actual
causes of war will remain that cannot
without difficulty or danger be sub
mitted TO the high court of arbitra-
ton.
You say: Then, why should we
become involved in an alliance that
may drag us into the disputes, the
disasters, and the dangers of other
nations? This was the doctrine our
fathers believed in, and one that
am slow to yield. But we face
condition, not a theory. Time and
space have been eliminated. DAN
gers to our people and our republic
that were not dreamed of century
ago confront us today at our very
doors, a threatening menace to our
lives, our civilization and our institu-
tons. Shall we continue to dream of
the ideals of the past, or meet as
practical men the dangers of the
future? For me, there is but one
course to pursue"