The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1919-03-21
congress MAY PASS
A joint RESOLUTION
Declaring War Is Ended
Says Lenroot and
Then Wait


gotiate peace treaty satisfactory to
the Senate, Senator Lenroot, of Wis
cOnsin, Republican, said in an ad-
dress on the League of Nations before
the Washington Commercial Club
here tonight. Congress may pass
J joint resolution summarily ending
the war with Germany without
treaty, leaving American participa-
tion in the League of Nations to fu-
aure determination.
Senator Lenroot declared he fav-
ored the general plan of the league
as proposed, but would not be forced
into voting for the constitution as
now drawn without amendment.
Asserting that the United States
tion," with American principles and
ideals endangered by the plans for
the league, Senator Lenroot continu-
ed:
I'VE are told that the President
will not permit peace with Germany
unless there is made as part of the
peace treaty the constitution of the
league as drawn in a large part by
Great Britain. We are told that this
will be done to force the Senate to
accept without amendment this Brit
ish constitution. revolutionizing our
Government and it's foreign and do
nestle policies. In other words the
Senate is to be coerced to do some
thing which it otherwise would not
do. and public opinion in America is
thus to be coerced into demanding
ratification.
Will Not Be Coerced. !
'In my judgement President Will
son has once more misjudged the
temper of the American people and
&c 8 the Senate. will not be coerc-
ed into voting for the constitution 70
the league and | am sure the Senate
will not be. The proposed constitu-
ton will be considered upon it's mer-
it's regardless of whether it is
coupled with the peace treaty or not
If the constitution should not be
amended to protect and safeguard the
interests of the United States, the
Senate will propose such amendments
as it may deem necessary"
Senator Lenroot said the suppos-
ed club over the Senate postponing
peace is 49, stuffed with straw"
adding.
st does not seem to have occurred
to the President that if he is not will
ling to negotiate treaty of peace
satisfactory to the American people.
Congress may itself, and undoubtedly
will, pass a joint resolution declar-
ing the war with Germany termi-
mated. The Constitution clothes
Congress with the power of declaring
war, and the body that is given this
power unquestionably has the power
to terminate the war,
Germany is whipped. We are ask
ing for no annexation, no indemni-
ties. We have accomplished the pur-
pose we had when we declared war.
and while it would be desirable to
have a formal treaty of peace with
Germany II Is not necessary.
Can Declare War Ended.
Eve can declare the war has end
ed and go on about our business. and
confidently predict that this Is what
will be done If the treaty is not rat
flied by the Senate. The proposed
League of Nations will then have to
be considered separately If it is con-
sidered at all. BY this of course the
United States will lose nothing. for
the obligations imposed upon us by
the proposed league far outweigh any
possible benefits coming to us.
The Senator quoted from an ad-
dress by President Wilson in 1914 in
which the executive said 1--WE should
not form alliances with any nation in
the world" and also from a state
ment by former British Ambassador
Bryce commencing the Senate for
"discouraging the executive from
schemes . = for foreign enterprises
and to save the country (the United
States) from being entangled with
alliances. protectorates, responsible
ties of all sorts beyond its own
frontiers"
America does not need League
of Nations so much as league OF
Nations needs America" said the
Senator in conclusion, ''and the
American people are willing to enter
such league provided that the legiti-
mate interests of America are proper.
ly safeguarded. which they are not