The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-18
LEAGUE PLAN
IS web MADE
TO TRAP US.
REED CLAIMS
Missouri Senator Attacks
Covenant for World Society
in Address Before State
Legislature.
ABR0CATES DOCTRINE
(By Associated Pressl


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-, March 18.
The Missouri legislature in joint ses-
sion today heard an address by United
States Senator Reed of Missouri, in
criticism of the league of nations con-
stitution.
Reiterating contentious that the
league would impair American SOW
ereignty, abrogate the Monroe Doc
trine. violate the American constitu-
tion, create a "sUpor-government Of
the world" and force the United States
into worldwide difficulties and polio
ing obligations. Senator Reed chal-
lenged assertions of it's advocates that
the leagues DEGREES and powers would
be merely advisory. He insisted that
its action would be mandatory and in
volve command of the world"
There are a number of advocates of
the league" said Senator Reed. "who
seek to protect 1t against the indigna-
tion Of the American people by argu.
ing that the council has only the pow
er to recommend and then it is op-
tional with the several nations to COM
ply or to refuse to comply with the
recommendation.
Contentious Destroyed.
Let US examine that miserable ar
gument. II 1t be a true statement,
then the league is backed by no force
whatsoever and the league is an in
nocuous thing. Why multiply so many
words about armies and navies and
force II there is to be no force?
III however, it is contended that
the obligation is morally binding then
indeed we rare worse off-because the
NIT cd totn xxytl1 oh
legations whereas some other nations
might not.
"All these contentious were utterly
destroyed by the president, who, when
he presented the league constitution
to the peace council. expressly stated:
Armed force Is In the background of
and II the moral force of the world
will not suffice, the physical force OF
the world SHALL"
Analyses League Charter.
In detail. Senator Reed analyzed the
league charter copies of which he had
distributed to all members Of the joint
legislation session. Declaring that the
tentative constitution was of British
origin. he asserted that America would
be directly entangled In Europe alli-
ances and added:
European diplomats have skilfully
woven their spiders web SO that We
may be caught In its meshes and may
be bound for all time to send our gal
liant sons to assist the dominant ma
tions Of the earth in policing the world
and ultimately to assist some Of them
in the ambitions for power, or quarrels
over territory"
Asserting that the league charter
contains no provisions for withdrawal
OF nations from the league, Senator
Reed continued:
Those who conceived it's structure
did not intend to allow the United
States to escape, once it should fate
fully step within the tangling web.
v. S. Would Be Outvoted
THE American people were told
that the constitution of the league had
been conceived by American represen-
tatives and was being forced upon re-
luctant Europe. 1t now transpires that
the entire scheme. from first to last,
with some slight notifications, Is the
product Of Britain craftsmanship"
This might indicate, he said. why
England would outvote the United
States five to one and be allowed TO
retain her fleet.
The executive council feature or the
plan was attacked especially by the
senator.
I'VE thus create an oligarchy cloth
ed with more arbitrary powers than
were ever welded by any despot OF
earth" he said. Here is a tribunal
OF five men, without any limitations
whatever upon their authority, against
whose decision, once rendered, there
Is no appeal save to armed force.
Against the abuse of their power there
are neither checks nor safeguards. II
this be not creation OF the very COM
mand OF the world. then the language
Of agreements cannot create powers"
Senator Reed said there was wide
public misconception OF the league and
that a majority Of the American peo-
[Continued On Page Eleven.]