New-York tribune., 1919-06-06
proposed Covenant Attacked
by Speakers at Meeting
of Academy Being Held
at Columbia University
"Ambiguous,'' Says Snow
neprives Nations of Their
Sovereignty, Assertion of
George Wharton Pepper

tons received rough handling yester-
day at the semi-annual meeting of the
Academy of Political Science, when
George Wharton Pepper, of Philadel-
nbis attacked it. President Nicholas
Murray Butler, of Columbia, gave it
cuff and Alpheus H. Snow, adviser of
the State Department, called it "am-
biguous."
United States Senator Key Pittman.
OF Nevada. defended the covenant, as
did also Representative Herbert C.
Pell, jr., OF Manhattan.
George ". Wickersham, former At
.orney General, in his address on ON
ternational Labor Standards, and
Their Possible Enforcement in the
United States, approved various ideas
in the British, French and American
labor movement, but called attention
to what he is sure are fallacies. Other
speakers were Dwight w. Morrow,
Judge William L. Ransom, Arthur K.
Kuhn, Abram |. Elkus, Ambassador to
Turkey; John B. Andrews, J. P. Cham
DR.. Butler Raps Covenant
DR.. Butler presided at the morning
session in the auditorium of the Hor-
ace Mann building, and Professor
Henry r. Seager presided at the after
noon session.
In opening the morning session DR..
Butler said that had the work of draft
los
hands he would have produced a much
different sort Of document.
Dwight W. Morrow. adviser to the
Allied Maritime Transport Conference,
who spoke on The Relation of the
Covenant to Recent International Co.
operation, said that any theorist who
believed there would be no more
wars was making a mistake. He said.
however, that it would be great
shame TO the people of this generation
and betrayal of those who had died
we did not do something to make
war impossible to the greatest extent
that it can he done
Pittman Defends Covenant
"The chief attacks made in the
United States upon the covenant of the
league OF nations" said Senator Pitt
man, ARE not based upon it's lack of
power TO prevent or defer war, but
upon the alleged grant to the league
Of jurisdiction and power to interfere
with the vital interests of our govern
ment. There Is not contained in the
document single prohibition or limi-
tatlon upon our right to defend our
own territory or our citizens against
attack
IF We the leaders of democracy.
most ardent advocate Of peace and the
bltterest opponent of miitarism. are
unwilling to submit such international
disputes equally with all other civilized
nations to the unanimous verdict of
tne world, then indeed all is hopeless
IN my opinion there can be no great
nstionallsm without internationalism. :"
Pepper Attacks League
Mr. Pepper who is vice-president of
the League for the Preservation of
American lndepe ndence. in opening his
sddfeSs, pointed out that there might
be two kinds OF league of nations
FIRST, there might be kind that would
junction through an international
council wlthc'It power to bind the ma
''onS' out with extraordinary power to
soVise and to throw the pitiless light Of
puolclty on affairs aed to substitute
open for secret diplomacy.
inns KIND Of league he said. 81
heartily indorse. The other kind Of
league Is where sovereignty is delegated
70 a central body with power to make
p'nc'ng It's decision upon all signatorv
nations. 1t is to this plan that the
proposed covenant belongs"
D. onder the proposed draft, said Mr..
.eppers' 4 a question arise that one
VI the parties thinks is purely
domestic ana not subject to arbitra-
'on' while the other party thinks it
s"0uid De arbitrated, it is up to the
council Of the league to determine, first
"hetner 1t is arbitrable and then to
usc'ae 1t. This may be done, he add
ed' oy a majority and not necessarily
unanimous vote.
Sees Danger to America
In our own case" he said, "take
'ne question of immigration. We
nght say this is purely domestic, while
N'e country that raised the protest
n''ght say this is not the case. Their
up to the council to decide II
M .ae decision is against US, the only
un'ns TOR us 10 do is either to submit
- 'heir finding or to break our cove
uen'' which will mean we will have
:" hgnt, not only one nation but tht
s'med iorces Of all the nations thai
decided against US.
:. IN the same way such questions al
@e protective tariff, coast-wisc trade
aHu the Panama Canal might event
aeAy be put up 20 the executive coun.
VI Of the league and be decided un
.sFofaoy 70 us. The only good feature
VI 'he entire document is the three
a'h'hs cooling off period it allows be
''fs decision is rendered."
International Voting Trust
Ar. Pepper characterized the league
.'ahcil az an international voting trust
psfpstual in character and an offensive
."' defensive political alliance con.
"''sd 10 place forever in the hands oi
s'minant group Of the great power.
N'a.foi " international politics.
.hsy are bound 70 decide question,
s1dsd - ''''' '''>''N"' -
~ Pepper urged that in forming {
s4s''otion for league Of nations
~. ~ attention be paid IN the Constitu
wa of our own country. and that cx
,s"'s Dower should not be substituted
Atx.f-