Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-28
SENAT0RSIN
SHARP CLASH
OVER LEAGUE
Prepared Speech of Lodge
Brings Heated Reply
by Hitchcock.

tcTenCeS OF opinion over the league
Of nations constitution were voiced
in the senate today by Chairman
Hitchcock, of the foreign relations
committee, and Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts,. who y's be chair
man of the commit IN the next
congress when ~ Slepublicaus
take control.
After Senator Lodge had deliv-
cred a prepared speech before
crowded floor and galleries. warn
ing the American people to weigh
the constitution and insist upon
revision. Mr. Hitchcock took the
floor and denounced as preposter-
Gus the Massachusetts senator's
suggestion that the league would
deprive the United States Of its
right of self defense.
- Does Not Limit Defense.
Il DESIRE" said Mr.. Hitchcock
TO repudiate the suggestion that
the league would in the slightest
degree limit the privilege and the
duty of any nation, the United
States or any other, to defend it
self when attacked. and to protect
its territory and rights when i'll
vaded, either by a member of tn E.
league or not"
Senator Lodge replied that he
took that view, while the commit
tee chairman was entitled to a
honest difference of opinion The
conflict. Senator Lodge declared,
illustrated and emphasized Reces-
sity for re-drafting the league
f.h IN Of
struction impossible.
Lets have it stated in the con-
tract just what it means" said
Senator Lodge.
When war starts replied Sen
ator Hitchcock. ''the right of self
defense supersedes everything else
and the senator knows it,"
Delivering his first public utter
ance on the subject since the con-
siitution became public. the Massa-
chusetts senator vigorously op-
posed the plan and male specific
recommendation for amendment.
He declared that as now drafted
the constitution would cOntrayene
the Monroe doctrine. strike at
American sovereignty, involve
America in all foreign disputes,
3. bstitute internationalism for ma
tionalism and be Of benefit princi
pally to Europe.
Admits League Needed.
Expressing complete sympathy
with the popular demani and eff
forts toward agreement for world
peace, Senator Lodge said he was
not prepared to say tnat there
n he Ar hn
tions to safeguard against war, but
he insisted that the agreement for
such A concert should De drawn
up calmly and deliberately when
the world was at peace and rot
hastily when war still existed.
Senator Lodge, who is expected
To be chairman of the powerful
foreign relations committee in the
next senate, which will act on the
peace treaty and any plan for a
league of nations. was given close
attention by senators and crowded
galleries. He urged thar the na-
tion think we'll before departing
Grom The policies of Washington
ana said the paramount duty now
was to conclude peace with Ger
many
Sees New German Threat.
Much time has been wasted" he
said. The delays have bred resi-
lessness and confusion every
where. Germany is lifting her
head again The whine uttered
after defeat is changing 10 threats.
She is Seeking to annex 5000. coo
of Germans in Germar-AustTia
TO
reyiving her financial and com
mercial penetration everywhere
Germany is again threatening and
the only source OF a great war is
TO be found for the future as for
the past in Germany. she should
be chained and fettered now and |
this menace to world peace re
moved"
The senator said that while in !.
the interest OF peace it might he /
necessary to abandon the Monroe /
doctrine, the policies of Washing |
ton and ether principles of Amer /
icanism. the nation should reflect /
and hesitate before it acts.
There is an issue involved in .
the league constitution presented .
to US which Overshadows al. /
others" said Senator Lodge We .
are asked to depart now for the
first time, from the foreign policies
Df Washington We are invited to
move away from George Washing
on toward the other end of the
.ineSat which stands the sinister
: IRE of TrOtzky, the champion of
nternationalism.
Warns Against Haste.
We have in this country a gov
eminent of the pleople and by the
people, the freest and best govern
nent in the world and VIC are the
great rampant today against the
anarchy and disorder which have
AIKEN possession of Russia. and
Ire trying to invade every other
peaceful country in the world. For
-incoln's government of the
aeople. for the people and by the
feople, we are asked to substitute
. the United States on many vita
ints government for and by other