The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-18
REED MAKES new
ATTACK ON PLAN
Of WORLD LEAGUE
Missouri Senator, Addressing
State Legislature, Reiter-
ateS His Contentious That
Draft Is Faulty.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo-. March lS.-
The Missouri legislature in Joint ses-
sion today heard an address by United
Stats Senator Reed, Of Missouri in
criticism OF the league OF nations con-
stitutlon.
keueratinE contentious that the
leagae would impair American SOW
ereignty abrogase the Monroe doc
trine, violate the American constitu-
tion, create a super government OF
the world and force the United States
into worldwide difficulties and polite
Ing obligations, Senator Reed challenged
assertions Of its advocates that the
leagues degrees and powers would be
merely advisory He insisted that its
action would be mandatory and involve
'command of the world"
Ihere arc number Of advocates
OF the league said Senator Reed,
'whp seek 10 protect It against the
ipdiGnatlon Of the American people by
Arguing that the counCn has only the
power 70 recommend and that II is
then optional with the several nations
70 comply or TO refuse to comply with
the Recommendation,
Let us examine that miserable ar
gumpnt II It be true statement,
them the league is backed by no force
W'lIatsoever, then the league Is an in
nocuous thing. Why multiply so many
words about armies and navies and
force Il there is to be no force?
Calls 1t Worse.
III, however, Il Is contended that the
l-phllgatlon is morally binding, then In
deed we are worse off--because, the
| United States will keep its moral OBJ
llgations whereas some other nations
Knight not.
tsAll these contentious were utterly
destroyed BY the president, who when
! he presented the leagues constitution
40 the PEACE Council expressly stated
Armed force Is IN the background OF
this program, but 1t Is in the back
ground and II the moral forces Of the
world viii not suffice the physical force
Of the world shall
IN detail Senator Reed analysed the
4 league charter, copies of which he had
distributed to all members hf the Joint
| Legislative session. Declaring that the
! tentstlve constitution was Of British Or
igins ne asserted that America would
% tss Y n ssSSlI s,sS aus0psA' N NJ M
lT6pean VTItblomats have SkilifuflS
woven their SPIDERS web so that WI
\ may be caught IN It's meshos and may
| be bound for all time to send our gal
| liant sons to assist the dominant ma
tions OF the earth In policing the world
and ultimately to assist some OF them
| In the ambitions for powers or quarrels
| over TERRITORY"
| Asserting that the league charter con,
talns no provision for withdrawal Of
nations from the league, Senator Reed
continued: Those who conceived It's
structure did not intenda to allow the
| United States TO escape, once II should
faithfully step within the entangling
| web.
Is British Plan.
The American people were told that
the constitution of the league hG been
conceived by American representatives
and was being forced on reluctqat Eu-
rope. 1t now transpires that tNe en-
| tire scheme from first to lasts with
some slight notifications, is the product
Of British craftsmanship
This might indicate, he said, why
| England would out-vote the United
States five to one and be allowed to
retain her fleet,