The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-07-17
SWANSON FIRES
FIRST SHOT IN
TREATY BATTLE
Sounds Keynote Of Administra-
ton Defense Of League of Ma
tions--Sovereignty Not In
vaded, He Declares.
BY Associated Press.

ny ASSoc'ate0 rfeSS.
Washington, July 15.-Praising
the League Of Nations covenant as
Zone of the worlds greatest docu-
snents," Senator Swanson, Of Vir-
.ginia, a democratic member of the
foreign relations committee, told
the Senate today that if the Unit
ed States rejected the league it
would mean that she would
.skulk in the greatest world crisis
that ever occurred"
The speaker defended the
league against the objections that
it would sacrifice sovereignty and
American traditions and asserted
that, on the contrary, it would re
suit i'll immense material gain in
protecting American integrity and
preventing war. He declared it
would not create a super-govern-
nnent, involve Objectionable obi
cations nor invalidate the Monroe
doctrine.
The pathway of our duty is plain"
said Senator Swanson. Let US not
be frightened by our own prodiglous
shadow as 1T projects itself into world
affairs. Let us not be deferred tom
o u manifest duty and destiny by a
craven e a of becoming great in Civ
ing service n direction to a world in
a direst hour of it's need and Distress
Keynote Of Defense.
Ihe keynote Of the administrations
defense of the league as sounded in
Senator Swanson's speech is:
The requirement for concurrence Of
the United States in every decision of
the league council absolutely guaran-
tees this nation against surrendering
its sovereignty"
swanson answered in detail every
objection Of the league covenant. In
each case he pointed to the provision
that each decision of the council must
be by unanimous vote, including that
of the United States. After the coun-
Gil has acted congress stiil has power
to refuse American acceptance OF the
councils advice. Swanson declared.
Pointing out that the wal had shak-
en- the social order to its foundation,
the Virginia senator said it was the
paramount obligation of responsible
statesmen to prevent another such con-
~flagration, which would return the
world ito the rule of brute force and
hATbarism in the dark ages"
On Monroe Doctrine
Answering objections to the article
affecting the Monroe doctrine, which
guarantees the validity of engage
ments such as treaties of arbitration
or regional understandings, like the
Monroe doctrine, for securing the
maintenance Of peace" Senator Swan
son declared, the article made. a clearly
explicit reservation of the doctrine
If any conflict should arise between
the provisions Of the covenant and the
Monroe doctrine" he said, "as far as
we are concerned. the provisions of the
covenant are annulled and the Mon
roe doctrine survives. We accent the
covenant with this clear reservation
Objections thai the doctrine is no;
properly: described In the article Mr.
Swanson declared unfounded.
Retain Sovereignty.
THE covenant Of the lea gne has bee.
assailed from two opposite sources
he continued. The League will neithe,
be a super-state nor sovereign. nor {
helpless, powcr1ess association OF ma.
tons. The instrument creating tn.
league is a covenant entered into by
sovereign states. One of the attribute.
ofasovereignty is the ability to MAX:
covenants or agreements. That a stats
reserves its full sovereignty is conclu.
sivelN settled by the provision allowing
any member to withdraw. No nation
superior OF otherwise. eSer thus ex.
pressly provided means for its disso.
hutton.
This covenant If ratified by the en-.
tentc would be no more nor less than 6
treaty legalized under our constitution
The plan for the formation of thu
league is slilfully conceived, and tn.
only one possible under existing poiiti
co! conditions.
"The assembly OF the league will b.
composed of representatives of tn,
members who viii, be selected in &C
cord with the laws Of the respective
states. In the case of the United States
states. In the case OF the United State!
the representatives, being officers ere
ated by the treaty. would bc appointed
as provided by an act Of coma IS
Much opposition has beet NJ" DC.
cause a great nation like the Unitet
States has only one vote In the assem-.
bly,. Eut what difference does the num
Der Of votes make when upon all i'm
portant matters the action of the as
sembly must be unanimous. or hav'
he unanimous concurrence of tn
council, upon which the United State
Is permanently represented?
The league could never be organ
ized on n basis other than that %
equal representation. II members ~,
accorded difference in r~epresentatio,
upon what basis. should enc appor.
tionnent be made? II upon population
emma and lndias would dominate tn
league and the United States woul,
ll~aVe@only fifteenth of the nun
ner. II based upon wealth and mill
tsEy' the situation would be equal.
anu unsatisfactory.
Disarmamenr proviso.
what better plan for disarmaner
could be devised? sFhe co,pcii fc Il