Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-20
WHAT THE PEOPLE
THINK OF LEAGUE
Of NATIONS SHOWN
IN MANY LETTERS
Replies Received by President
of New Mexico University
Indicate That Sentiment Not
Yet CryStaIized,
MAJORITY AGREE ON
GENERAL PROGRAM
DeSirabiIity Of Preventing Fu-
ture Wars Not Question, but
Disagreement Results on the
Method of Procedure.

That the league of nations propo-
stion is attracting wide attention may
be iu iged by the amount of discus
sion regarding it, The Journal pub
fishes the following replies received
by Dr., David II. Boyd, chairman of
the publicity committee of the league
to enforce peace as illustrative of the
sentiment when the replies to his in
Quries were written.
1t will b. seen by reading them that
very few of the writer's have made
up their minds except on one point
the desirabiity of a league of nations
that will minimize the chances of war
occurring in the future.
Neill B. Field says
Nicll Il. Fields View.
Dear Doctor Boyd;
Il beg TO ackn wedge receipt of
your letter of recent date and to say
in reply thereto that ! am very glad
of the opportunity to answer the ques-
tions contained in your letter and to
give you permission to give as wide
publicity to my views as you think cir
cumstances may Justify.
ITO your first question, DO you be-
lieye in the general principle of the
league of nations? | answer that as
you know | was a charter member Of
the American organization and have
been closely identified with the move
ment from its inception here. | be-
lieve most profoundly that the general
scheme is practicable and that it Of
fers solution of those problems
which necessarily underlie the perma-
ment peace of the world.
ITO your second question, DO you
feel that the advantages which the
United States will derive will Justify
us in making some sacrifices of our
national sovereignty and giving up ex-
elusive control of South American af-
fairs? | answer that / do not under
stand that we have ever had exclusive
control of South American affairs but
| have given very carefut considefa
ton TO the proposed constitution of
the league in the light of the objec-
tions which have been made to it on
the floor of the senate of the United
States and elsewhere so far as the
same have come under my observa-
tion. | find these objections to be
essentially hypocritical and most of
them without any real foundation. ]
am entirely clear that the proposed
constitution does not in any way inn
pair the Monroe doctrine aud | am
eoually clear that II involves no sur-
render of sovereignty on the part of
the United States to ratify the consti-
tuition of the league as a part of the
peace treaty IL we shall be offered an
onportupitv to do so AS understand
the proposed constitution absolute
unanimitv of all tho sienatory now
ers is reouisite i'm order to commit any
sipnatorv to action which could be
construed to be a surrender of SOW
ereipntv and excent in the limited
sense in which every treaty operates
MS n limitation of sovereign mower of
tho sienatories I fai, tn find in this
constitution anv evidence of Tho sur
render Of sovereignty
"If changes are TO be considered
have in mind two ideas that should
Ikie IN see EXPRESSLY incorporated al
tboueb 7 think thev both are now in
tbe nronosed constitution bv necessarv
In, ni,cotion
"I should like IN have if snecificaIly
nrovided that anv signatorv might de-
ro,nce ,be agraement and withdraw
So, tha Ioaene mon not;ce to the
nthar siynatories for anv reason
doon,ed bv tho u,itbdrav;ng nation to
no suffioiont
81 should like the obligations as
s,p,ed bv our government as n sig
,atnr,, 10 ovnress tho idoa tbat such
oblirations would he performed and