The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-12
LEAGUE ONLY
ALLIANCE OF
BIG POWERS
SAYS LODGE
''Deformed Experiment on
Noble Purpose" He Declares
Would Plunge U. S. Into
World Wars.
KILLS MONROE PACT
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON. Aug. 12.-Describ-
ing the League of Nations as de
formed experiment upon a noble pur-
pose," Senator Lodge. Of Massachu-
sets, chairman Of the foreign rela-
tions committee and Republican lead.
er OF the Senate, declared in Sen
ate speech today that there were
features of the league covenant, which
''as an American" he never could ac-
cept.
Creating, not league Of peace, but
an alliance embracing many provis-
ions for war" the covenant in its pres
ent form, he asserted, would kill the
Monroe doctrine, nullify any possibil-
ity of withdrawal from membership,
impair the sovereign power of decid-
ing domestic purposes, and plunge
the United States into every contro-
versy and conflict on the face of
the globe
Let US beware" he said, how we
lpalter with our independence. We
lhave not reached the great position,
from which we were able to come
down into the field Of battle and help
save the world from tyranny, by be-
1ng guided by others. Our vast pow
'er has all been built up and gathered
together by ourselves alone.
Debtors Only to France.
I'VE forced our way upward from
the days of the revolution, through a
world often hostile and always indif-
ferent We owe no debt to anyone
except to France in our revolution and
those policies and those rights on
which our power has been founded
should never be lessened or weakened
It will be no service to the world to
do so and it will be intolerable In
jury to the United States. We will
do our share. We are ready and
anxious to help in all ways to pre-.
serve the worlds peace. But we can
do it best by not Gripping ourselves.
Il am as anxious as any human be-
ing to have the United States render
every possible service to the civiliza'
ton and the peace Of mankind. but
am certain we can do it best by not
putting ourselves in leading strings
or subjecting our policies and oul
sovereignty to other nations. / will
go as far as anyone in world service
but the first step toward world service
is the maintenance of the United
States. You may call me selfish, Il
you will, conservative or reactionary
but an American I was born, an Am
erican | have remained all my life
Il can never be anything but ar
American, and I must think Of the
United States first, and when l think
of the United States first in an ar
rangement like this. l am thinking o.
what is best for the world, for If the
United States fail, the best hopes o.
mankind fail with 1t. l have never
had but one allegiance-I cannot di
vide it now.
Worlds Best Hope.
The United States Is the world:
best hope, but If you fetter her in the
interests and quarrels Of other ma
tions, If you tangle her in the intrigue:
of Europe, you will destroy her powe
for good and endanger her very exist
ence-
I'VE are told that we shall 'breal
the heart of the world If we do no
take the league just as it stands.
fear that the hearts Of the vast ma
tority Of mankind would beat OF
strongly and steadily without an
quickening If the league were to pei
tsh altogether. If it should be eject
lively and beneficiently changed th
people who would lie awake in sorroy
for a single night could be easil
gathered in one not very large room
but htose who would draw Ion
breath of relief would reach to mi
lions.
Likening the league to the ill-fame
Holy Alliance, Mr.. Lodge quoted tn
covenant provision giA'ng the assent
ly authority to deal the meeting
with any matter affecting the peac
M
There is no such sweeping or IA
reaching provision as that in the tre;
ty of Paris, and yet able men deve
oped from that treaty the Holy All
ance. which for 35 years, was an VI
mitigrated curse to the world. En-:
land broke from the Holy Allianc
because English statesmen saw that
was intended to turn the alliance
and this league is an alliaance-int
a means of repressing internal revolt
tons.
mo revolutionary movement, no il
ternal conflict of any magnitude ca
fail to effect the peace of tn
world. ANY matter affecting the peac
Of the world is a very broad stat
ment which could be made to justi
almost any interference on the part
the league with the internal affair
OF other countries.
In Article 10 the United States
bound on the appeal Of any membe
OF the league not only to respect bt
to perserve its independence and i,
boundaries, and that pledge, if W
give it. must be fulfilled. There
to me no distinction whatever in
treaty between what some person
ere pleased to call legal and NOR;
obligations. A treaty rests and mu:
rest. except where it is imposed upo
Guress and securities and hostage
are taken for its fulfillment, upo
moral obligations. The pathway
dtshonor is always open. But wha
ever the United States agrees to, b
taat agreement she must abide.
a.. e