The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-11
LEAGUE OR ALLIANCE-WHICH?
By The HON. KEY PITTMAN
United States Sc ator from Nevada
'Msrnher Of the Foreign Relations COMMITTEES

The enforcement OF the essential
terms OF peace absolutely necessitates
tie creation Of the league OF nations,
or the setting up Of an alliance be-
tween all or some OF the victorious
nations The Immediate determine
ton OF this impending alternative
forces upon the world the gravest
tna portant though they be. by compari-
son sink into instgniicance There
may be some doubt with regard to the
great results hoped to be attained by
league Of nations The league Of ma
tons is being created Ia the open. and
has as its motive the highest aspira-
tons OF man. IL Is the only hope for
lasting peare throughout the world.
We know the brutal results of al
hances- TheY- Arc -heEntten Of fear. de
colt md greed they are horn in secret
places and live in the dark until OPP
portunity arises for them TO spring
upon An Innocent and unsu~pectfnS
world with an Of the horrors OF war,
devastation and murder They are not
constituted for peace They have al
ways been and always Will be the most
potent incentive To WAT The American
people viii have none OF them. 1t Is
true that the league of nations, con-
sidered in "A certain sense n an al
iiance. but 1t is an open alliance Of ali
civilized nattons~~founded upon definite
principles Of right and Justice and
established for the purpose OF prevent
ing war.
An Snstaaea~ Arxunsewt-
IL has been argued by some of our
American statesmen that treaty of
peace should be entered into irnrn e.
dlately without the Incorporation of
any provision concerning league OF
nations. and that such question should
be deferred for future consideration.
This. In Its effects, In tho most in
sidious argument that has been pre-
s-nted in the effort to defeat the
esta hlshment Of a league of nations
me thoughtless. the impatient and
| unreasonable in many places are
echoing this suggestion, They are pro-
voked that the president should delay
peace that involves the world be-
cause Of his so-termed "idcalistic" do
sire to establish a league OF nations as
an integral part of the treaty Most
OF those who repeat and use this argu-
mont do not understand the questions
involved and do not know the settle
ments that must be made by the treaty
| od peace Statesmen do know, and they
! KNOW that II involves more than the
surrender Of armament. the payment
of Indemnity and the making of repa-
| ration for the wrongs that have been
done II this were an. It might then
ne unnecessary to incorporate IN the
BODY of the instrument provisions for
The maintenance Of the covenants be-
cause they would. ipso facto be exc
cuted. This. however Is not all that
must be provided for In the treaty.
- Lodge Resolution.
Are we 10 establish nations and m
dependencies and then. as stated in
the Lodge resolution which was signed
ny the thirty seven Republican sena-
tors give careful and serious con-
sideration" TO the means. manner and
conditions OF their defense while their
ancient and enraged enemies devour
Them
We are forced to the fnev4ta BILE
conclusion that there must be a
league OF nations provided for in the
treaty, or thereafter the immediate
| esta blishmeDt of an offensive and de-
fensive alliance between all or some
| or the powers who are now at war
with Germany.
/ France and Italy would tustly re-
mand such an alliance In the event of
tho failure of the establishment of a
league of nations, England and ia
pan would undoubtedly concede to
.uch demand. What would the
| United States do7
l am convinced that some Of our
most distinguished statesmen would
prefer such an alliance with Great
| Britain 10 any league of Nations and
possibly hope to force such n con-
| summation.
| Do We Want an AIlfAncc1
Il doubt. however, II even ma
1ority OF the United States senate.
/ and fwo-thirds Ia required. would con-
sent TO an alliance with any or all of
the nations ! have mentioned. but
| have no doubt that such an alliance
would be bitterly and successfully op-
| posed by the American people. Our
| people will never enter into an often
sive and defensive alliance with any
I European governments. II. however,.