New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-01
Believes American Constitutional
Principles Are Striker Down
OFFERS, NEW ARRANGEMENT
- Outline Presented BY Pennsylvania
Senator Would He Says, Preserve
Monroe Doctrine and Save america
From Intrigue and Aggression.

Y
>tary of state, speaking today in the
senate assailed the League of Nations
as striking down American constitu-
Tnonal principles and proposed a new
world organization which, he said,
would preserve the Monroe Doctrine
ana save America from the results of
European intrigue and aggression"
senator Knox, who attended the
" hite House dinner conference last
Wednesday with other members of
the senate foreign relations commit
tee, said the constitution Of the
D. league as presented to the peace con-
, ference ''sanctions, breeds and COM
mands war and after criticizing yari-
GUS clauses Of the document asked:
Why SO Much Propaganda.
''Why this feverisn anxiety for the
adoption Of this plan? Why this rae
ing up and down the land by propa-
gandists urging its adoption? What
benefit is to come from such q sale Of
the country as is urged upon us?
Who are the beneficiaries of this be-
travail of our people?"
The senator said that if the people
of the United States desired what he
termed q real league Of nations to
prevent war and mot merely build
coalition to further trade or preserve
and expand territorial possessions it
might be secured through the forma-
ton of an international organization
comprising the nations of the world.
Proposes International Court.
Senator Knox said the constitution
of such an International coalition
should primarily declare war an in
ternational crime and stipulate that
any nation engaging in it except in
self-defense be punished by the world
as an International criminal He also
suggested that the constitution pro-
vide that International disputes be
decided by an international court &C.
cOrding to an international code be-
fning war; that no nation could sum-
mon another before the co!lrt unless
the subject under discussion was Of
common concern to the contending
nations and that jurisdiction of the
court not extend to matters OF gov.
crnmental policy.
Would Protect L. S. Principles.
Under such a code, the senator de-
Clared, America would not, as in
event the present plan Tor league
of nations were realized, be called
upon to arbitrate "the policy involved
in the Monroe Doctrine, our conser-
walton policy; our immigration policy,
our right to expel aliens our right to
repel invasion and to maintain mill
tary and naval establishments: our
right to make necessary fortifications
of the Panama canal or on our from
tiers, and our right to discriminate
between natives and foreigners in re-
spect to rights Of property and citi-
zenship''
Among other suggestions for the
constitution he said it should provide
that the countries of the two hem
ispheres be called upon to enforce de-
crees Of the international court only |
in their respective hemispheres
CA league framed on these broad
lines" he continued, would carry !
with it Il minimum loss of our SOY !
ereignty, would relieve us from par !;
ticipation in the broils of Europe. !
would preserve the Monroe Doctrine |
and would save America from the re- |
suits Of European intrigue and .ag-
gresSiOn.''
Insists He Is Not Biased.
In opening his address, Senator /
Knox said he wished it understood he !;
had not secured negative conclusions I
In regard to the constitution of the |
pIOpOSeu IedSuG through unfrlenOl1- |
ness or bias. He said he was against |
war even to the extent of seeing the |
United States make the utmost sacri- |
fees possible, but that he wanted to |
feel sure that when the Offering OF
the United States had been placed !
upon the altar and burned this coun-
fry should have m easurahly and pro-
portionately advanced the cause of !
human liberty and happiness.
Cr'iticizes Proposed League
Referring to the proposed constitu-
ton of the League of Nations. he
first criticized it for "looseness of ex
preston" which he said chara cterized
IT throughout and then because it ap-
peared to set up two operating en-
titles for its enforcement the high
contracting parties" and the lea que
itself. In this connection he said the
Importance of this became apparent
when it was observed that "the high
contracting parties did not comprise
every member state in the league and
that, therefore, the "burden assumed
by the high contracting parties, who
ever they may be. possibly the big
I'VE is crushing in its weight"
Wants Central Powers Included.
Ihe senator warned especiallr
against leaving the Central Powers
out of the league, saying the inev-
table result would be "to drive them
more closely together for mutual self
protection, thus making the forma.
ION Of second league Of nations
bidding for adherence from neutral
'tates almost a, certainty
Thus at no distant date" he con-
inued. I'VE should have two great
CEOntinued on Sixth Paxel