The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-20
SENATOR LODGE SAID.

1t has been said that am against anv
league Of nations | am not. Far from
It. | am anxious to have the nations
unite in league to do all that can be
done to secure future peace of the world
and bring about a general disarmament
There are some cases in which criticism
should be constructive as well as destruc-
tive-and some cases when criticism must
be destructive alone. &, slavery. This
is case where constructive criticism is
needed, and | offer as my first construc-
tive criticism that this league ought to be
redrafted and put in language that every
body can understand BY doing that you
will remove at once many causes Of dis
pute.
One objection that runs all through the
draft is that it says in so many places
that the executive council, the seat Of ali
authority. shall recommend, prepare and
pass on all measucs-refuses to say by
what vote it shall do it.
The Monroe Doctrine is not ephemeral
because il rests on two permanent facts
human nature and geography. | offer
as q constructive criticism that we should
make larger reservation of the Monroe
Doctrine.
In its essence the Monroe Doctrine is a
fence we have put around the Western
Hemisphere to exclude other people; and
] have never been able to understand how
you could preserve a fence by taking il
down.
deny the jurisdiction of other nations
that they shall have power TO say who
shall come into the United States.
] offer an amendment to exclude inter
nal questions OF the character of the tariff
from the jurisdiction of the league
One Of the two great points to which
] wish TO call attention is that of manda-
tories; by it might be demanded that we
20 through Asia, Africa and Europe tc
take up the tutclage OF small nations.
Article 10 is the one | want the Ameri-
can people to consider. We are asked t.
guarantee the territorial integrity OF
every nation in the world. III the United
States agrees to Article 10. we must carry
il ont strictly in letter and spirit
Now that is a tremendous promise l.
make
If tho American people are not ready
10 do that, then that article will have
to 60 ont Of the league If they are ready
TO do it, the treaty will be ratified.
/ offer as a constructive criticism the
suggestion that the covenant should say
definitely when the league might be dis
solved
The sanctitv is above everything else
important. Whatever this country agrees
to. that the country must maintain.
The draft appears to me to have been
very loosely and obscurely drawn. 1t is
necessary that there shall be as many
provisions as human ingenuity can devise
against differences Of opinion as to mean
ING. About that present very porous III.
strmcnt there viii be differences Of opin
ions within the twelvemonth between
those who sign it..
We are all agreed on desiring the seeur
ity Of the peace Of the world. The only
question Of practical nature is whether
the league laid before us win tend to Sc
cure the peace of the world, and whether
it is Just and fair to the United States o
America
Contacts are apt to cause war. Pow
crs not in contact with one another d,
not have occasion TO 30 TO war In th
scheme we create number Of new con
facts and therefore we should examin,
all the proposition with utmost care be
fore giving assent.