The sun., 1919-09-27
'CUMMINS EXPOSES
LEAGUE FALLACIES
Iowa Senator for Reservations
and All Amendments Ex-
cept Shantung.
CITES ERRORS BY WILSON
Believes That Article x. Is Not
Only Morally but Constitu-
tionally Wrong.
CITES ERRORS BY WILSON
sp.cial DespateA 20 TIE. SUE.

tiOnally Wrong.
Special Despatch 20 TIE sur.
WASHINGTON, Sept. Ex-senator Cum
Minis (Ia.) told the Senate to-day in a
set speech, which disclosed the most
careful study of the treaty and League
Of Nations covenant, that It was his in
tention to vote for the reservations as
drafted by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee and for all the amendments to
the pact and covenant save the one re-
lating to the disposition OF Shantung.
Regarding the Shantung award and
the Senator's own views on II, he made
II perfectly clear to the Senate that his
intention to vote against the amendment
was not because he did not think the
deal shameful one. but because he be-
lieved II not to be Americas affair and
thing In which participation under the
treaty was no more Americas business
than the awards OF Thrace to Bulgaria
or the Saar Valley obligations assumed
as a part OF the pact.
Senator Cummins said in part:
THE one great, trremediable error
which our country has committed was
, made when the President outlined ir
/ his now famous message the terms OF
peace. However exalted his purpose
may have been he embarrassed beyond
measure the three nations most directly
! concerned and planted the seeds Of
dissension and discomfort everywhere
For years to come this country will feel
the weight OF that browning mistake Of
overpowering egotism.
Dangers in Article ".
Far be 1t from me to doubt the sim
certify OF the President as he eloquently
urges these and kindred considerations.
My divergence from his path OF reason
comes about because I have an entirely
different conception OF the development
and progress OF peoples and nations. /
| do not believe the welfare OF humanity
will be promoted by compact through
which a few strong nations will dominate
and control many weaker nations. The
| protection which Article x IL designed
to furnish 70 feeble Powers must In
evitably lead either TO their complete
subsection or to continuous revolution.
I'm honor It binds us to send an army
If an army is necessary to send a navy
IL navy Is necessary; to send supplies
| II supplies are necessary: to establish
an embargo II an embargo is necessary
IN short to do for the assailed exactly
what we would do for ourselves under
like circumstances.
| "I would like to write into the reso-
luton of ratification the plain simple
statement that the United States as
sumes no obligation whatsoever under
| Article X. This is not to declare that
/ will not vote for the reservation upon
that subject reported by the Committee
on Foreign Relations, for I expect to
do so. I am only making It clear that
| would prefer to vote for a reservation
that would eliminate this article so far
| as the United States is concerned. root,
trunk and branch for It Is not only con-
stitutionaIly wrong but II Is morally
T, wrong In that IT robs US Of the oppor-
| tunity to do what we may know to be
right when the occasion for action
comes.
TT has been somewhat difficult for me
to determine the wisest course to pur-
sue with respect to some of the amend
ments which have been proposed to the
text OF the treaty. / recognize the In
equality and therefore injustice Of the
superior voting power given to the Brit.
ish Empire. The other nations signing
the treaty seem to be satisfied with this
disparity Of influence. and ] do not for
get that the reservations to which
/
from the power of both council and as
sembiy in many vital matters affecting
our national freedom and relieve US TO l
great extent from the obnoxious obi
cations on which have commented.
His Two Chief Objections.
81 am naturally less concerned abou
the strength of Great Britain IN the as
sembly than otherwise 1 would hav
been but Notwithstanding these amelio
rating circumstances It Is impossible 70
. me to approve so fragrant departur
from the fundamental principles Of fair
/ ness and equality.
my mind Is chiefly fastened on tw
things. the protection Of the Unite
States against the power over our If
fairs which under the guise of Deace
conferred on the League of Nations, ant
of escaping obligations which we hav
no authority to assume and which woul
inevitably lead us into all the storm
which will sweep over these vast popula
J lions In whose trials and troubles W
} can have no moro than q sympathetic in
terest.
League Does Not Mean Peace.
at Is hard to understand how hon
est men can go about the country assert
|
League OF Nations can make men an
women contented with their lot or sur
render the principles for which they ar
fighting. This Is not the occasion for al
inquiry into the causes Of unrest. but h
who endeavors to instill into the publ
mind the false hope that peace witt
Germany with or without the League o
Nations means peace for the world Il
. the relations of men with each other
that II means q restoration OF conf
dence in the justice OF organized society
that II means credit for commerce.; tina
. 1t means producing. selling and buyin
according to ancient customs is infiict
) ing an incalculable injury on the peopl
of this country.
my sincere desire to dispose Speedil
l Of the German treaty Is not founded o.
4 the faintest hope that II will quiet uu
rest, but based on the profound convic
ton that we ought to be free as Quickl
as possible to turn our thoughts to som
solution of the problems in our domesti
1 AFFAIRS. which are the gravest which eve
. challenged the minds and hearts OF hu
Z manity.
!, Mr.. President, I would stand-if
a stood alone-for an America with tn
right to choose from time to time tn
0 company she keeps: for an America a
= liberty to follow her own conscience a
( the events OF the future transpire; 70
] an America which all the nations of tn
earth are powerless to order from RICH
doing or command to wrong doing 10
an America concerned for the world bu