The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-19

! President is now taking back to Paris
| to present to the peace conference for
! their consideration and action.
| When I read the draft noticed that
| there was no time limit TO the covenants
J stated and no conditions given under
! which a nation could withdraw. I read
| it again to make sure. Gould It be that
| five Americans in Paris with the consent
! of the Senate have power to bind forever
! the United States in 4 league or nations
and treaty unprecedented in many or
! it's conditions: Such, however. would be
; the result. Can We not imagine stu
alton within fifty years wherein ono or
| two Of the nations might Do restless
/ even bitter under sense OF unjust
! treatment, yet bound forever by its rep
! resentativcS of 4 former generation:
! Could there be greater temptation to
| nation TO make q treaty"a scrap OF pa
perez" Would 1t be a league to promote
! peace or war?
! Again searching questions such as the
following have been raised by men of
, high standing. lawyers and jursts. Dem
! oCratS and Republicans. Does this draft
Of a league OF nations recognize the
! Monroe doctrine or noto Does it enable
REPRESENTATIVES of the league to allow a
! colony of OrientalS to develop on the
west coast of South America or Of Ger
mans, If they enter the league, on tho
east coast? Does 1t take away from the
! United States its control over its policy
| - l.
accepts responsibility for America, be
obliged to keep a standing army OF
young Americans In Armenia? How
great an rmy or navy must we keep
ready to be sent TO any part Of the world
TO carry out the leagues enforcement Of
peace? 1t does not matter much 10 me
just now how these questions are an
Swered Perhaps the Monroe Doctrine
should go By I'll" hoard and the United
States hand over her immigration prob
- .A- NSyNt HaF h lac
me is that the present dreft is worded
SO vaguely that these questions which
may later cause grave MISUNDERSTANDING
lngs among the nations. are already
asked b able mon and that able men
! give different answers. And l have not
se"n in President Wilson's speeches any
attempt to answer them. He reitcrates
that the American people believe in a
league Of nations, and that he is going
to tell the peace conference so.
The President has said that the
United States is today the greatest
moral asset for Christian civilization.
We gladly agree with him. The United
States is today = nation ready and glad
to serve tho world. a nation self de-
, | trrmining and with national integrity.
It's existence as such a nation Is one rea-
, Son why it is so great a moral asset
It's action under Mr.. Wilson'S admins
tration before and during the war is a
, brilliant example Of its power and noble
draft so change our national conditions
| as to endanger the very qualities which
make us a power for good? l do no,
, know. But thr raising of this question
! by able men. and tho contradictory an
SwerS again suggest that the draft OF
the Le;Lcu" Of Nations has not reviewed
the considerations that it should have.
Who knows whether tn" American
people arr supporting this draft" II is
} suggestive (thnugh is it only coinci-
= deucn:) that when tn" President asked
the country at the last election for a
Senat" to support his policy, the country
sent fewer mon 10 The Senate liable L
support his policy.
= In behalf therefore Of = league Of ma
/, tons Su well considered ~ TO be likely
!. tn bear Tho test Of time: in behalf Of in
itnrrntional good Will and peace: l he
lrvn that il is my duty 70 oppose m any
way in my power thu present draft. anc
to support tn" Senate. when the ques
! ton comes before them. in demanding {
- form az 1eagu" Of peace SO constructed
and phrased that its path will be clearly
n pointed towards International peace.