Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-03-19
TALKS0F PEACE
MADE bYSENATE
To DEFY WILSON
Lenroot, of Wisconsin,
Says Upper House Will
Not Be Coerced.
CRISIS FOR AMERICAN
PRINCIPLES, He ASSERTS

Washington, March 1S.-If Presiden,
Wilson does not negotiate a peace treaty
satisfactory to the senate, Senator Len
root of Wisconsin, republican, said in
an address on the league of nations be.
fore the Washington Commercial club
tonight, congress may pass Il jo..lt re-
solution summarily ending the war with
Germany without a treaty, leaving
American participation in the league OF
nations to future determination.
Senator Lenroot declared he favored
the general plan Of the league as pro-
posed, but would not be coerced into
voting for the constitution as now
drawn, without amendment.
Asserting that the United States to-
day is in "a most critical situation"
with American principles and ideals en-
dangered by the plans for the league,
Senator LenrOot continued:
We are told that the president will
not permit peace with Germany unless
there is made as part of the peace the
constitution of the league as drawn in
league conferences by Great Britain. He
also told that this will be done to force
the senate to accept without amendment
this British constitution, revolutionizing
our government and its foreign and
domestic policies.
Will Not be Ciubbed.
In other words, the senate is to be
cOerced to do something which it other
wise would not do, and public opinion
in America is thus to be coerced into
demanding ratification.
In my judgment, President Wilson
has once more misjudged the temper of
the American people and =. = the
senate. l will not be coerced into voting
for the constitution of the league, and
I am sure the senate will not be. The
proposed constitution will be considered
upon its merits regardless of
whether it is coupled with the peace
treaty or not. If the constitution
should not be amended to protect and
safeguard the interests of the United
States, the senate will propose such
amendments as it may deem necessary
Could Declare War Ended.
Senator Lenroot said "the supposed
club over the senate of postponing peace
stuffed with straw" adding:
1T does not seem to have occurred
to the president that if he is not willing
to negotiate treaty Of peace satisfac-
tory to the American people, congress
may itself, and undoubtedly will, pass
joint resolution, ~declaring the war with
germany terminated. The constitution
clothes congress with the power of de-
claring war, and the body that is given
this power unQuestionably has the power
to terminate the war.
Germany is whipped. We are asking
for no annexation, no indemnities. We
have accomplished the purpose we had
when We declared war, and while it would
be desirable to have a formal treaty of
peace with Germany, it is not necessary.
Would Consider League BY Itself.
Eve can declare the war has ended
and go on about our business, and con-
fidentially predict that this is what would
be done if the treaty is not ratified by
the senate. The proposed league of ma
tons will then have to be considered
separately if it is considered at all. BY
this course, the United States will lose
nothing. for the obligations imposed up
on us by the proposed league far out
weigh any possible benefits coming to
u.s."
The senator quoted from an address by
President Wilson in 1914 in which the
executive said I'VE should not form al
liances with any nation in the world"
and also from statement by Former
British Ambassador Bryce, commenting
Continued on Page Three)