New-York tribune., 1919-06-19
Senate to Defer Vote
On the Knox Resolution

signed by us and signed by GERMANY
that Germany would not make war
on France or any other country with
out submitting to a league of nations
the question of the righteousness of
her cause, the world would have been
spared this awful confiagration.
You talk about our entering .h;s
war TOR a great world principle. The
man who makes that assertion knows
that he falsifies the record. He knows
that we never said to Germany won
nave no right to make war on France. ,
we based our right of action solely on
the ground that by the acts of Ger
many she had made war on US. iwant
to put ourselves in such a position
that we shall never feel it necessary
TO relterate such a falschood.
German Views Known
I'VE knew all along just what Ger
many had in mind. We knew her
purpose of world domination. But we
had not the right under international
law or under any agreement to de-
mand that she refrain from that hell
country or any other country again to
De placed IN such a position of i'm
potency.
of coarse, not one of US would
have written this covenant just as it
has come to Us. But this covenant rep
resents the deliberations Of nations.
II deals with complex situations. 1t
comes to us rs a compromise compact.
And to secure the support of this coun-
try special concessions have been
made to us. Our Monroe Doctrine is
by this instrument given a world sane
ton.
"The members of the league under
take TO preserve territorial integ-
rlty only against external aggression.
A community of landowners, where
there is no other law to appeal to,
may most properly unite to protect
the land of each and every one against
the avariciously inclined. 1t has been
asserted and re-asserteG in all the
false attacks on this instrument that
the United States would be compelled
to help Great Britain preserve her
domain against her own internal revo-
lutlons or rebellions. Nothing could be
more false. 1t is only against ex-
ternal aggression that the league as
sures its protection.
For Decreased Armament
"The members OF the league agree
to the reduction Of national arma-
ments. We wave aloft the banners of
sovereignty and independence as
cnn +N T~,1 -,
not stop to consider that every COM
pact or treaty between nations that
has ever been adopted is just as much
a surrender Of our sovereignty and our
national independence as though the
same treaty were made en- bloc with all
the nations. We have preached the
reduction of armaments for years
Now, present to me, if you can, bet
ter or safer plan than that provided
in this treaty, or else acknowledge
frankly that we never intended to con-
form our acts to our declarations"
Referring to charges that the United
States would be at disadvantage in
the league because it has only one
vote. the speaker said the important
decisions would be made in the council,
each for the FIVE great powers, with
unanimous action required to effect a
decision or to transfer consideration of
a question 20 the assembly.
Mr.. McCumber also declared he per-
sonally would be opposed to leaving
Germany out of the league, fearing
that action might lead to future divis-
ions and jealousies.
Senator McCumber's statement that
operation of the league would bring
about a reduction in world armament
was challenged by Senator Norris, Re-
publican, of Nebraska, who said he
doubted such results, because unani-
nous consent of all signatory nations
would be required. Mr.. McCumber said
that, with countries generally impov-
erished, disarmament gladly would be
agreed to.
Senators Williams, of Mississippi,
and Walsh, Of Montana, Democrats,
said disarming of Germany would tend
toward disarmament.