Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-13
Congress Declares State of
War and Can Declare State
of Peace, He Says.
ASSERTS SENATE WOULD
RATIFY PACT If ALONE
Contends That Main Fault With
Covenant Is That Monroe Doc
trine Not Safeguarded.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. leader
Of the republica majority in the
United States Senate and chairman
of the Senate foreign relations COM
mittee. does not believe that state OF
peace between the United States and
Germany need be~or will be delayed
by whatsoever action the Senate takes
with respect to the covenant of the
league of nations.
The Massachusetts senator was kind
enough 10 answer several questions
which | asked him today, questions
which seem to be in the minds of
many people who are not interested in
the political warfare between parties
or individuals. but in the exact basis
of the opposition to President Will
sons foreign policies. and the inten-
tions of the leaders of the Senate so
far as they affect the declaration of
an actual state of peace. In the inter-
est of accuracy Mr., Lodge read over
and approved the Quotations after L
had written them down
"Can End War at Any Time"
Would not the separation of the
peace treaty and the league of ma
lions involve delay at this time In
requiring further negotiations at
Paris and thus delay bringing about
a state of peace" was the first uues-
ton.
Congress declares a state of war"
replied Senator Lodge. land Congress
can declare state of peace. There
never was moment when the United
states was not free to make a sepa-
rate peace. The President was al
ways careful to refer to the allied
powers as associates and not AL
lies and while those countries are
bound by agreement to make peace at
the same time the United States is
not bound to do so. Congress can
bring the state of war to an end at
any time. The peace treaty itself
contains nothing of special interest to
Us, but concerns more particularly
Great Britain and France whose sig
natures without ours need not af-
feet the obligations devoIving upon
Germany. And the league of nations
could be discussed afterward at lei-
sure"
Objections to League.
What would you say are the chief
objections of the Senate today to the
covenant of the league of nations?"
First. that it does not sufficiently
safeguard the Monroe doctrine The
words regional understanding like
the Monroe doctrine are confusing,
for L know Of no other doctrine any
where like the Monroe doctrine. It
is not an international understanding,
but strictly American policy. de-
clared by us. interpreted by us and
Pnfnrnad m o ho
made by officials of Great Britain to
the effect that in case of a dispute as
to an Interpretation of the Monroe
Doctrine the league of nations would
decide the dispute
L interrupted him to inquire whether
the provision requiring a unanimous
vote in the league would not permit
the United States TO dissent from
any Interpretation harmful to her in
terests.
But" continued the senator. II
deny even the jurisdiction of the
league of nations over the Monroe doc
trine. II is our own policy. never
submitted to other nations heretofore
to decide and subject only to our own
Interpretation. We specifically re-
served our rights to that. effect in
The Hague conventions and ought to
do so in the future. We cannot
afford to allow any other nation but
ourselves to say what the doctrine
means.
Second. article ten in the covenant
is Objectionable and should be elimi-
mated altogether. 1t would require US
entire world for all time. 1t would
require US to defend all sorts of
countries in all sorts of disputes.
There would seem to be no objection
to a guarantee for a fixed perior. say
five years. of the particular bounda-
cat n az n
war. =
Sees Wide Scope in League.
senator might regard the general pro-
vision of the covenant which states
that the powers shall have the right
to consider disputes anywhere at any
time as within the jurisdiction OF
the league as sufficient protection In
the event that external aggression
occurred after the five-year period
were ended and seemed to be pro-
of war.
TT certainly is wide sweeping
he answered, and might
seem TO contemplate jurisdiction OVER
such contingencies"
Would Ratify Treaty. e
What is your Judgment as to the
sentiment on the peace
treaty itself, the terms with Ger-
many" was the next question.
IF the peace treaty with Germany
were to have come to US separately
there would be no hesitation about
ratifying the treaty at once. Many
Of the senators do not like certain
parts of the treaty, but this would
not prevent ratification. For instance
have heard an astonishing amount
Of talk about the Shantung settfe-
ment. much more than i had expected
Senator's seem to- have the feeling
hat we have deserted helpless.
friendly ally, China, and turned over
German property to Japan. whose recs
ord we all know"
Means to Execute Treaty. -
How could the peace treaty be sS.
eague of nations?"
well, diplomatic commissions can
% created to do. whatever il has
been proposed that the league shall
To- Commissions, in any event,
would have to be appointed under a
eague They can be selected and
to do the specific tasks
postponed by the peace treaty"
DO you consider that Europe must
De helped by America to get on her
'eet again."
Yes. because we alone have the
money and credit to do it." -
League Not Held Essential.
do you not consider the leaguA