Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-20
LODGE WOULD
FAVOR LEAGUE
IF AMENDED
Must Be Changed SO as to Pro-
mote Peace, He Tells
Audience
By Associated Press

London, March 20.-"If the league
shall be put in such shape that it
VIII promote peace instead of breed
ing disorder and will work no in
justice to these United States, | will
support lit" said Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge in replying to a ques-
ton of President A. Lawrence Low
ell, of Harvard, during their debate
on the League of Nations covenant
last night
Il hope from my heart it will be
amended" he added. II hope that
such league will be framed some
wnere. In my belief it will not be
done in Paris"
a demand from DR.. Lowell that
Mr.. Lodge say whether he would
vote Tor the covenant if it were
amended according to his wishes,
led to the Senator's declaration.
5000 Persons in Hall
Addressing an audience of 5000
persons in symphony Hall. the dis
tlnguished speakers were applauded
literally, frequently and apparently
impartially.
There was no heckling, though
cries of good" and that's right" :"
followed telling points in the argu-
ments.
Senator Lodge outlined his atti-
tude briefly, as in favor of a League
OF Nations, but not of the covenant
as presented.
The whole treaty should be re-
drafted" he asserted. THAT is my
hrst constructive criticism"
Refers to Roosevelt
The Senator's reference to Theo-
dore Roosevelts attitude as in op-
position to such a plan as was en-
bodied in the covenant, drew ap-
plause. He said that he had dis
cussed the idea of a League of Ma
tions with Mr.. Roosevelt two weeks
before his death. The position l
! have taken" he added, lin refer
ence to this covenant, is one that
! had Mr.. Roosevelt's full approval
! ! do not say this to transfer any
! load from my shoulders to his, but
! 1t is at the same time a support tc
know that my position in this matter
is in agreement with his expressed
! conviction"
! Referring to the charge that the
| criticisms of the covenant were not
constructive, Senator Lodge pointed
out number of ways in which he
would amend the treaty, laying es-
pecial stress on the need of protec-
| ton of the Monroe doctrine.
Hour For Decision Near
The hour is rapidly approach
| ing" said DR.. Lowell, in summing
! up his plea for the covenant, when
we must decide whether our coun-
try shall take its place like a great
and generous nation side by side
with others as guardians of law. or
der and justice in the world. or
whether it shall turn it's face away
from world in agony"
He prefaced his argument with
the statment that although he had
always been "an inconsistent Re-
publican and frequently had been
in agreement with Senator Lodge,
he could not agree with his utter
ances on the League of Nations
covenant, and still less with those of
his Senatorial colleagues.
DR.. Lowell maintained the correct
ness of the covenant in principle,
arguing that while very defective
in it's drafting" and easily misun-
derstood" it should be accepted and
improved"
He described it as an experiment
in open diplomacy.
To meet certain objections raised
DR.. Lowell advocated the insertion
of clauses in the covenant permit
ting Withdrawals from the league on
reasonable notice. stipulating that
no foreign powers shall acquire any
possessions on the American con-
tinents and making it perfectly clear
that immigration and tariff problems
are TO be regarded as purely internal
affairs.