Evening star., 1919-03-20
KEEP-US-FROM--WAR
PLEA TO Be Fought
Senators Foresee Campaign
of EmotionaIism When Pres
ident Returns.
Mr.. KNOX ExPATIATES

Senators opposing the covenant of
The league of nations say it will de-
volve upon them to refute the princi-
pal contention of the advocates of the
league of nations that at will keep US
out of war" They declare this state
ment to be fallacy on a par with the
claim that "he kept US out of war;"
which, they say, was used in the last
presidential election to the advantage
Of the President.
Foresee Emotionalism Campaign.
The opposing senator's foresee "a
campaign Of emotionalism"
in behalf Of the league of nations.
based upon the cry TT will keep US
out of war" They realize the diff
Guilty of trying to stem a tide Of
war.
They will try to point out to the
people what they claim to be the
fact, that the league of nations is not
a sure preventive of war, and that
it should not be accepted, at the
sacrifice Of American traditions and
policies. under any such misappre-
hension.
Plan to Puncture Assumption"
They visualize the President coming
back and going-before the people with
wi
US out of war" and. appreciating to
the full how much capital was made
for the democratic party in the cam
paign Of 1916 by a similar claim. He
kept US out of war" understand that
they must be up and doing to punc-
ture what they claim to be an erro-
ueous assumption.
Senator Knox lays great stress upon
the asserted futility of the league OF
nations plan to prevent future wars.
Far from being a preventive, Sena-
tor Knox contends that the scheme,
promise, nay, assurance, OF future
worldwide war. greater than any
which has gone before; than any
other document in the history OF
recorded time"
Another League,
Senator Knox contends that the first
effect Of outlawing the central pow
ers viii be to drive them more closely
together for mutual sell, profession.
fofsnaf3s Of q secena ieagut OF ma
lions almost an assured certainty.
.-The future would thus present" he
contends, two great leagues OF ma
tons. which Ean !. eseems es two great @
sss ss9ps .sSf ssssesis q sssTsr
'pur oniy escape from this fesult.''
he claims. under this plan would be
through the exercise OF such a tyran-
nical. despotism over the peoples of
the central powers as we with all our
traditions and ideals must not become
n party to. Moreover, to keep peoples
in SUCH state Of subsection would
require such an expendtture OF effort,
treasure And blood as never would be
Sees Danger in Plan Proposed.
Thus the plan proposed. instead of
reace of the world would be assured,
becomes = plan. under which con-
stant warfare or potential great
worldwide confiagration becomes an
assured fact"
The senator's contention further is
that. the league of nations is merely
an offensive and defensive alliance be-
tween certain picked powers as be-
tween themselves and coalition
among them as against the balance of
the world, and this coalition Is formed
with an avowed and published purpose
to impose upon the stronger powers
the will of the coalition. not merely
in questions relating to the prevention
Of war, but in all .other subjects in
which the conduct Of the strange pow
ers affects the members of the coali- |
ton. Has history ever answered an
to thus save in one way and
has that way ever spelled anything
but disaster for the coalition?"
Covenants View of War.
Senator Knox points out that the
league plan still regards war as legal
and possible: first, under article IL. IL
the two high contracting parties have
q dispute which is submitted to arbi-
tration and with the award of which
neither party lis satisfied, they may
Of three months from the date Of the
award.
Second, under the same article. il
there is a life dispute between like
parties and the matter is submitted to
the executive council, which makes a
that neither party is
willing to accept. then the parties
may, after an interval of three months.
go to war. r
Third, under article IS, If a dispute
goes either to the executive council
or the body, of delegates. and either
body gives decision unanimous. ex-
cept as to the parties in dispute, and
this decision is unacceptable to both
parties, they may then legally go to
war. The senator points out four
other contingencies under which war
Is possible.
Points to Mandatory War"
Senator Knox goes further and calls
attention to cases where war not only
is possible but actually mandatory.
rhis government, he contends. obli- |
gates itself to preserve. by force of
a rms. If necessary, the territorial in
kegrity and political independence of
all states members Of the league. II
any Of the high contracting parties
it's covenant under article
IL the United States must fly to arms
10 protect the covenants.
Moreover, he insists IL any non-
member Of the league acts in such a
way as would constitute a violation of
article IL, the United States must go |
10 war to protect the covenant.
He also lays stress. upon the. asser- |
lion that in the seven contingencies |
where war is made legal and the |
three where 1t is made mandatory. !