Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-06
SEN. LODGE WARNS
AGAINST LEAGUE
He Says Constitutions Provi-
siOns Would Cause Monroe
Doctrine to Disappear and
Abridge American Sovereignty
DOCUMENT Is LOOCE
We Are Asked to Move Away from
George Washington Toward Other
End Of the Line where TrOtsky
Stands, Declares senator

Washington, Feb. 2s.--Republican
senators to-day returned to their as
sault on the constitution of the league
of nations. as proposed to the peace
conference at Paris, with Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts. who will be
chairman of the powerful foreign re-
lations committee in the new Senate.
making his first procurement since
the document became public.
Criticism by the republicans did not
pass unchallenged Chairman Hitch
cock of the foreign relations commit
tee took sharp issue with the Massa-
chusetts senator, denouncing as pre-
posterous his suggestion that the
league would take from America it's
right Of self-defense
Delivering before crowded floor and
galleries an address he had prepared
before attending the White House din
ner conference last Wednesday night,
Senator Lodge warned the American
people to consider we'll before depart
ing from the policies of Washington.
and to insist upon revision of the
league constitution. Later in the day,
Senators Lenroot of Wisconsin and Free
linghuysen of New Jersey made addi-
tional demands for amendment Of the
charter.
Senator Lodge, speaking before an
audience which included diplomatic rep
resentatives of several foreign nations,
deplored proposals to give powers to the
league which he said would cause the
Monroe doctrine to disappear" would
| abridge American sovereignty and in the
! end promote misunderstanding and war
/ instead of the peace which the world so
much desired
| The Massachusetts senator assailed
especially the provisions for territorial
guarantees, manufactures and disarma-
ment. Besides demanding revision of these
clauses. the senator declared that
domestic questions, such as immigration
should be definitely placed beyond the
authority of the league.
He said the entire document was loose.
ly drawn admitting of wide interpreta
ton, and added that it should be re-
drafted to make dispute of construction
| impossible.
Senator Lodge told the Senate that fol
Lincolns government of the people. b,
the people and for the people. the United
States was now asked to substitute or
many vital points gvernment of. for ant
by other people, and declared the natior
should pause and consider we'll before
taking This fateful step"
I'VE are asked" said the senator, "te
move away from George Washington
toward the other end of the line at which
stands the sinister figure Of Trotsky
the champion Of internationalism. W.
must build no bridges across the chasn
which now separates American freedom
and order from Russian anarchy and de
struction.
Like Senator Lodge. Senators Lenroo
and Frelinghuysen warned agains
acceptance of the league constitution
without careful elaboration and withou
fundamental revision.
While favoring a league that would no
conflict with American principles an,
sovereignty. Senator Lenroot urged tina
as the project is an experiment. its If
be limited to ten years with provision
for renewal IL it proves successful.
Senator Frelinghuysen disputed an.
assumption that President Wilson repre-
scented public sentiment in proposing par
ticipation Of America in the league an,
demanded that the country be fully in
formed on all phases of the question
before the Senate is asked to conside
it as a part of the peace treaty.
Debate on the league will continue to
morrow with addresses by Senator Kno
OF Pennsylvania. former secretary o
state, and Senator Hardwick of Georgia
democrat.