The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-26
Four Essential Amendments


The Chicago Tribune editorialy proposes four
amendments to the proposed league Of nations
constitution that should appeal to all real Ameri-
cans Those inhabitants Of our country who
would reduce it to the status of province of the
proposed superstate-how redolent that is of the
late and unlamented German term superman-
will notice that these four amendments leave
the United States free and sovereign nation
The Tribune editorial follows:
There are at least four provisions in the
league constitution which cannot be allowed to
stand.
First, the one which gives England six votes
in the assembly to our one This provision rele-
gates us to position of inferiority we will not
tolerate. one analogous to that against which we
successfully rebelled century and half ago.
An amendment will be offered to the senate CIV
ing the United States in the league of nations the
When such an amendment is offered and voted
upon it will be interesting to see what senators
will go on record as voting for Americas resub-
jugation.
Second, grave doubt is still expressed as to
the position of the Monroe doctrine in the league
of nations. The Tribune chiefly instru-
mental in having the Monroe doctrine specifically
acknowledged and feels no small amount of pat
rotic satisfaction in what has been accomplished
in this direction, but if doubt still exists as to
Americas perpetual right to exclude by force Of
arms any occupation or interference in the Ameri-
can continent by any European or Asiatic power
this doubt must be clearly erased. We venture
to say that any senator who votes against an
amendment properly drawn to safeguard the
western continent from foreign intrusion will find
it more agreeable to spend the rest of his life in
foreign surroundings than in the country he has
voted to betray
Third, the provision that foreign governments
shall determine the strength of army and navy
this country shall be allowed to raise for the pro-
lection of its borders and its civilization cannot
be endured The Tribune believes that this pro-
vision is craftiy worded by alien diplomats to
render America helpless before future aggres-
sion Will any senator favor turning our future
safety to an executive committee of foreigners
Fourth. the league at best is an experiment
It's strongest advocates cannot claim otherwise
If we wish to enter upon this experiment the door
must be left open for withdrawal in the ex-
pertinent prove disastrous. If confidence game
has been put over our peace delegation there must
be means of exit for sadder and wiser ma
ton. We cannot leave chance for triumphant
diplomats to say, "You have entered into this
bondage, the door is closed, you are vas
sal, there is no escape
When these essential amendments and per
haps others no less essential have been adopted
by the senate they will be forwarded to England
TO France, to Italy, and to Japan. If the great
foreign powers have Interior motive in phras
ing the paragraphs unacceptable to America, they
will readily accept our amendments. If any one
of them refuses it will stand convicted of having
tried to trap US to our destruction.
In this last event the senate will repudiate
The treaty-and unanimously
The \ ron~,oon z.