The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-02
LODGE SCORES
LEACUEPACTS
IN HIS SPEECH
MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR sUG-
GESTS AMENDMENTS AND
GREAT CAUTION IN JOINING
ANY PACT.

fully weigh the constitution of the
League of Nations as presented to
the peace conference at Paris and to
insist upon it's fundamental revision.
Speaking in the senate, the republican
floor leader declared his conviction
that instead of safeguarding the
peace of the world, the league as now
planned, engenders MISUNDERSTANDING
and strife.
The Massachusetts, senator vigor-
ously opposed the plan and made spe-
cific recommendations for amendment
He declared as now drafted, the con-
stitution would contravene the Mon
roe doctrine, strike at American
sovereignty, involve America in all
foreign disputes, substitute interna-
tionalism for nationalism and be Of
benefit principally to Europe.
Expressing sympathy with the pop
ular demand and efforts towards an
agreement for world peace, Senator
Lodge said he was not prepared to
say there could not be a concert of
the nations to safeguard against war.
but he insisted the agreement for such
concert should be drawn up calmly
and deliberately when the world was
at peace and not hastily when war
still existed.
Given Close Attention.
Senator Lodge. who is expected to
be chairman Of the powerful foreign
relations committee in the next SEN
ate which will act on the peace treaty
and any plan for League of Nations,
was given close attention by senators
and crowded galleries. He urged that
the nation think we'll before depart
ing from the policies of Washington
and said the paramount duty now.
was to conclude peace with Germany.
Much time has been wasted he
said. 1.-THE delays have bred rest
lessness and confusion everywhere.
Germany is lifting her head again.
The whimpering after defeat. is
changing to threats. She is seeking
to annex 100000 of Germans in
German Austria. She is reaching out
in Russia and reviving her financial
and commercial penetration every
where. Germany is again threatening
and the only source of a great war is
to be found for the future as for the
past, in Germany. She should be
chained and fettered now an this
menace to world-peace removed"
The senator said while in the in
terest OF peace. it might be necessary
to abandon the Monroe doctrine, the
policies of Washington and ! other
principles of Americanism, the nation
should reflect and hesitate before. it
acts.
Amendments proposed by Senator
Lodge included specific provision ex-
Guiding the Monroe doctrine from the
leagues purview. This, he said could
be done in three lines. immigration
and other internal and domestic ques-
tions and those vital to the national
existence also should be excluded from
the leagues jurisdiction, he said.
Declaring the tentative constitution
is open to amendment and change, be-
ing merely a committee report, Sen
ator Lodge said it should be widely
considered and discussed to give the
peace conferees complete opinions.
CAS- it stands" he said, there is
serious danger that the very nations
which sign the constitution will quar-
rel about the meaning of the various
articles. before a twelve month has
passed. 1t seems to have been very
hastily drafted and the result is
crudeness and loosenesS of express
sion.
Before we ratify, the terms and
the language must be as exact
and as precise and free from any pos
sibility of conflicting interpretations
as it is possible to make them"
In detailed criticism of the present
constitutional form, Senator Lodge
said: I'VE abandon entirely the
policy laid down by Washington in his
farewell address and the Monroe doc
trine. In the twinkling of an eye.
while passion and emotion reign, the
Washington policy is to be entirely
laid aside and we are to enter on a
permanent and indissoluble alliance.
Under the terms of this league
draft the Monroe doctrine lis
appears I have seen it said that the
Monroe doctrine is preserved under
Article 10, that do not abandon
the Monroe doctrine. we merely eX-
tend it to all the world. How any
one can say this, passes my compre-
hension. Under this draft i. Am
erican questions and European ques-
tions and Asian and African ques-
tions, are all alike, put within the con-
troll and jurisdiction of the league
Urges Great Caution.
Criticising the territorial guarantee
provision, Senator Lodge said the
United States would join in the obli-
CATION to maintain all national boun-
diaries everywhere which. he said was
: very grave, very perilous prom
Use to make" 1t would require, he
said, constant possession of fleets and
armies. and added, there is no need
of arguing whether there is to be
compulsive force behind this league. f
is there in Article 10. absolutely and
entirely in their guarantees
Senator Lodge questioned whether
the proposed draft really makes for
harmony among the nations or will
tend to produce dissension and con-
troversy." I'VE all desire peace" he
said, but in our zeal for peace we
must be careful not to create new OBJ
legations and new and untried condi-
tions, which may lead to fostering
war rather than peace"