New-York tribune., 1919-04-02
Let League Draft
Stand, Hitchcock
Advises Senators
Attempt to Amend 1t Dan
gerous and Would Delay
Peace, He Tells Washing
ton Commercial Clu b
New lork Tribune
Uaslt,l,OtO,t Bureau

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, April 1.-Voicing an
assumption that the league Of nations
constitution would be amended to meet
some of the most serious objections
raised by critics, Senator Gilbert NJ.
Hitchcock, chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, and the Presi-
dents most consistent follower in the
Upper House on the league of nations
issue, declared tonight in a speech be-
fore the Commercial Club that there
should be no amending of the consti-
tuition in the Senate, because of the
danger involved in delay.
Zone Of the curious features of the
opposition" he said, ais its variety and
Inconsistency. A few oppose the league
of nations on principle and declare that
they are opposed to having the United
States enter into any international
agreement with the other nations of
the world and bind itself in any man
ner to cooperation with them.
$50 far as l know, only three mcm-
bers of the United States Senate take
this position and apparently they have
not a very large following. The rest of
the country has learned the lesson that
whenever the world is shaken by a
great war the United States is ncccs-
sari!y involved.
Always Danger of War
I'VE have learned that however
much we may ourselves desire to avoid
war, we are likely to have it forced
upon us as it was two years ago. Hav
ing learned this, we know that if wars
are to remain upon the programme of
the world, we must prepare for them,
and that is precisely what the people
Of the United States seek to avoid
Therefore, l say there are not many
who are opposed on principle to the
idea Of league of nations.
"Most of those who oppose this par
ticular league Of nations declare they
would favor it if it had different
constitution, or if its constitution
could be amended to suit their views
! Some want it amended in one par
ticular and some in another. Some
want it drastic and binding and power
full and some say it is already too
drastic, too binding and too powerful
League Merely Treaty
"The league of nations is treaty
1t is not a new government, as some
/ have supposed. 1t is q treaty which
viii be entered into by fourteen ma
tions and it will become an integral
part Of the peace settlement. When
the peace settlement comes over here
for the ratification of the Senate, it
probably will be too late for the Sen
ate to attempt amendments. Any
amendmcnt adopted by the Senate
would have to go back for acceptance
by the other thirteen nations and that
would delay the peace settlement for a
! long time.
Delays arc said to be dangerous and
IN this case they are dangerous in the
highest degree, because at the present
time the very life Of civilization in
Europe is at stake. Governmental auth
Gritty over an enormous area repre-
scntcd by Germany. Austria-H Hungary,
! Poland and Bohemia, as wclE as Russia
lies in ruins. If peace settlement is
not produced at an early date, the
| spread Of lawlessncss and despair may
involve still moro Of Europe.
Sees Objections Removed
81 assume that one objection will be
removed by the insertion in the league
constitution Of Il definite provision re-
serving to any nations the power to
withdraw from the league on giving
reasonable notice.
Il assume that another objection will
be removed by a provision in the con-
stitution specifically rescrving to each
individual nation the control over it's
domestic affairs, including, Of course,
immigration.
- assume that another criticism will
be answered by inserting few words
making 1t clear thet tho recommends