New Britain herald., 1919-03-22
PONERENE WOULD AMEND DLEAGUE. BUT WILL VOTE FOR IT, CHANGED OR NOT
Ohio Democrat Thinks Mon roe Doctrine Should Be Exempted-Believes Ex- pertinent Worth While.

Cleveland, O., March 22.-Speaking here today in support of the league of nations, Senator Pomerene of Ohio, a democrat of the senate foreign rela- uons committee, said that while pre- fcrring amendment of the proposed constitution so as to make it more definite and specifically to exempt from it's provisions the Monroe doc urine, he would support it whether it was changed or left untouched. The address was delivered at d luncheon of the Cleveland City Club.
 Thinks Plan Is Best Yet.
 "Whatever of imperfections there may be in the proposed league of nu- tiOns,' said Senator Pomerene, T submit that up to date no better plan has been proposed by any of the critics of the measure. They and we 1 hope that some means may be devised whereby to prevent war in the future. The opponents have pointed out some defects in this plan; but they give nothing constructive to take their place and we may say as we choose, the world will not forgive those in au- thority if they do not exert themselves to the utmost to bring about some plan which will give promise and hope for the future.''
 IpotS NoG tASrcS Wltn Discussing recommendations made by Senator Lodge of Massachusetts and Knox of Pennsy Kania, repub- 1 licans that consideration of plans for the league be deferred until after peace has been established, Senator Pomerene said the leage and peace treaty were so intertwined that one without the other would be worthless. | "I recognize that the proposed con- ] stitution is not logically arranged" he 1 continued, that it is poorly phrased, and that it is written in the involved and somewhat stilted form that char l acterizes many diplomatic documents. ! Even President Wilson's bitterest en- | emies, while they have charged him with all kinds of high crimes and mis- demeanors do not even presume to
 charge him with being responsible for it's language"
 1 Would Amend Section Seven Senator Pomerene said he would 1 prefer to have amended section seven,
 which gives Great Britain and her do- l mnions five votes in the body of dele l gates, but added that an examination ! of the document showed safeguards 1 which relieved this feature of it's
 principal objections.
 For one I am willing to try the ! experiment." the senator concluded. ! '1 submit that whatever the result
 may be the efforts for peace in this
 behalf cannot be worse in their con- : sequences than was the war.
 Sees Menace In Far East '"The danger is not yet over. So
 long as the Allied troops are in the
 field there may be no danger from the
 German armies. But there is an en- ! emy looming up in the Far East , which threatens to be even as de-
 structive to the civilization of the world as the German forces-that is
 the spirit of lawlessness which pre-
 vails among the Bolsheviki and in 'i Germany and Austria, ever the com-
 mon foe of our civilization, the com-
 mon foe of all government and it be- hooves the United States and her al-
 lies to take common council for the l defense of humanity.
 ''The 14 nations that drafted the
 constitution were comrades in time of
 War; l am sure they can be and will
 be companions in time of peace
 Surely we ought not to refuse to join
 them in time of peace to preserve . what we Joined them in time of war
 to establish, peace"