The Glenwood post., 1919-03-22
Believes League Of Nations
Plan Confusing and Wants
President to Explain It
SEEKING MORE LIGHT


League of Nations is amended so as to
proprely protect and preserve our
American institutions, our country
should not become party to the coveu-
ant" declared United States Senator
elect Lawrence c. Phipps in a signed
statement issued tonight
The senator said of the hundreds of
letters received by him since his elec.
tion concerning the proposed league, the
majority of them are opposed to ac-
ceptance of the league in its present
form. A few, he said, presumed, con-
trary to the fact, that the senators who
signed the Lodge resolution in Wash
irgton are opposed to league in any
form.
The senator criticised the president
for not taking congress into his conf
dence during his first journey to Paris
and for not giving the senators what he
termed clear Interpretation of the
league covenant by sections. He ac-
cused President Wilson of speaking in
general terms in explaining the league
and asserted its provisions are capable
of various interpretations.
Concerning the binding effect of the
proposed league, the statement says:
"There is no question whether the
constitution as it now stands is binding
upon any nation. Our president states
that we would be at liberty to with
draw from our agreement at any time,
although no provision for withdrawal
'Senators who are able jurists,
versed in International law, believe that
upon signing the agreement, we would
be bound for all time, unless the unani-
nous consent of all other signatories
was obtained to our withdrawal.
eff the president IS Interpretation is
correct, and we are free to cancel out
signature at will, then it logically fol-
lows that the same right of withdrawal
belongs to every other signatory; and
we have thus an obligation that may
be cancelled without notice at any time
by any party interested. Surely, it
should not be said that this agreement
in present form is not susceptible of
change so as to fix proper notice and
terms of withdrawal -
l., D..
planation of the league the statement
said:
"Landing in Boston, the presiden.
made one speech dealing in general
terms with the purpose of the league,
but gave no Interpretation of its TWEEN
ty-six articles.
"Following the dinner rendered the
members of the house and senate com
mittees on foreign affairs, at the White
House, the president made replies to
various questions relating to the prac-
tical operation of different articles of
the proposed constitution which dis
closed the fact that the meaning Of
these articles were susceptible of differ
ent Interpretation, yet he seemed insist
ent that the draft submitted must be az
ceped as a whole; that America should
rely upon the good faith of the high
contracting parties and that it would
be practically impossible to secure the
adoption of amendments which tend TO
clarity the intent and meaning of the
proposed constitution.
After referring to the "logical' crit
icism of Senator Lodge and Others on
the floor of the senate the statement
goes on to say:
"It is true that in his speech deliv'
cred nthe Metropolitan opera house ex
President Taft gave his Interpretation
of the separate articles of the treaty
but President Wilson, who FOLLOWED
him. merely spoke in general terms an'
did not then, nor has he at any time
given the American people the benefit
of his Interpretation of this constitu
tion, neither has he answered the CON
structive criticism of either the Demo
cratic or Republican senators who hav
given much study to the probable work
ings Of the proposed constitution"
Defending the action Of the thirty