The citizen., 1919-03-13
MR.. LODGE AND THE
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
tconiinued From Page ons)

country had reason and right TO
expect from him.
Mr.. Lodge was one of the most
ardent advocates Of the departure
from tradition at the time of the
Spanish war and against the counsel
Of his colleague Senator Hoar he
favored the acquisition Of the Phil
ippinc Islands and spoke for the adj
vance Of the United States into the
affairs Of the world as world
power" On many occasions that
came up his attitude was the same.
He wanted the United states 10 have
a part in the Congress at Algeciras
which dealt with the ambition Of
Germany. France and Spain in Mo-
rocco: he wanted the United States
10 intervene in behalf of the Jews
| in Rumana: as late as last Decem-
Der he said in the Senate I'VE can
not leave the Jugo-Slavs, the Cze-
cho-Slavs. the Poles. the Lithuan-
ians, and the other states we hope
TO see forward and marching on the
path of progress and development,
unaided and alone" He never
hesilated TO suggest that the United
STATES intervene TO separate Con-
stantinople from Turkey, TO create
the independent states of Armenia
and Palestine: 10 demand the return
of Sleswick TO Denmark; and to
compel the naturalization of the
Kiel Canal Surely these PROPOSE
tiOns were enough of a makeOver
Of the map Of Europe by our aid to
zee going somewhat away from the
traditional.
But more than that Mr.. Lodge es-
pouscd the cause Of a League of
Nation before President Wilson
himself had declared for it,. In an
address to Union College in 1915 Mr..
Lodge said: "The great nations must
be SO united as to be able to say to
Lany single country. you must not
go to war and they can only say that
effectively when the country desir-
ing war knows that the force which
tho united nations places behind
peace is irresistible.
1T may seem utopian at this mo-
ment to suggest a union Of civilized
nations in order to put controlling
force behind the maintenance of
peace. and international order, but
it is along this path that we must
travel if we are TO attain in any
measure to the end we all desire
Of peace upon earth.' And again
i'm 1916 he said: 81 know the Difficult
ties which arise when we speak OF
anything which seems to involve
an alliance. But | do not believe
that Washington when he warned
against entangling alliances meant
for one moment that we should not
Join with other civilized nations Of
the world if a method could be
found to diminish war and en-
courage peace" "The limit of vol
tuntary arbitration has, | think. been
reached | think the next step is
that which this league proposes and
that is to put force behind inter
national peace. We may not solve
il i'm that way. but if we cannot
solve it in that way it can be solved
in no other"
Now | ask what are we TO think
Of Mr.. Lodges present attitude.
Three explanations only are pos
sible. Either he has changed
his mind. as he has a perfect
right to do: or he is playing
politics and is showing peak at
the Presidents independence of the
Senate: or he is still an essential
believer in the League of Nations
and is seeking a revision and i'm
provement Of the plan. Let us hope
that the latter is the true explana-
tion. IL is the most consistent one;
il is most in keeping with the
character of the Senator. It would
take away much of the anxiety that
friends of the League have if they
knew that he has not passed over
TO the opposition when by rights
the President should expect his
most loyal support in measure so
far reaching in its import. As a
constructive critic seeking to i'm
prove the plan for a League of Ma
tiOns Senator Lodge could be most
helpful and effective As a de-
structive critic he would sink from
the plane Of statesman to that Of
/ "A neffv nOlitician