New-York tribune., 1919-03-31
ing to give it, the following considera
tions should be observed:
Need No Old World Help


Need No Old World Help
We are not asking, and do not need,
any help from the nations of the Old
World for the preservation of peace In
America, nor is any American nation
asking for such help. The difficulties,
the disturbing conditions, the dangers
that threaten, are all in the affairs of
Europe and the Near East. The real
reason for creating league of nations
IS to deal with those difficulties and
dangers-not with American affairs.
1t IS, therefore, wholly unnecessary for
the purpose of the league that purely
American affairs should be included
within the scope of the agreement.
When we enter into the league of
nations we do so not with any desire
to interfere in the concerns of foreign
nations, but because the peaceable ma
tions of Europe ask us to put our
power behind theirs to preserve peace
in their part Of the world. 1t is not
reasonable, therefore, that such par
ticlpatton as we agree to IN the activi-
ties of the league should be made the
oasls OF an Inference that we are try
ing to interfere in the Old World. and
therefore should abandon our objection
to having the Old World interfere in
America.
Warning of Trespass
with reference to the most i'm
portant American questions. Europe
as as whole on one side and the United
States on the other occupy positions
which however friendly are neverthe-
less in opposition. 1t must be remem
bcred that the league of nations CON
templates the membership, not only
of our present allies, but ultimately Of
all the nations of Europe. Now, the
Monroe Doctrine was declared against
those nations of Europe. 1t was a
warning to them not to trespass on
American territory, and, admitting ex-
ceptlons and speaking only in the
most general way, the nations of
europe are on one side of that uues-
tion and the United States is on the
other. 10 submit the policy of Monroe
European powers is to surrender it.
will add-vithout taking up space
to discuss it-that | cannot escape the
conclusion that to ratify this agree
ment as it now stands would itself he
a surrender OF the Monroe Doctrine.
and that the agreement as it now
stands gives to the United States no
effective substitute for the protection
which the maintenance Of that doc
trinc affords.
Applies to immigration
The same thing is true of immicra-
ton. The nations of Europe in gen
eral are nations from which emigrants
60. The United States is a nation to
which immi grants come. Apart from
ureat Britain, which would be bound
to look after the similar interests of
Canada and Australia, Europe and
America are bound to look at qucs-
tions of emigration and immigration
from different points Of view, and
under the influence of different in
tere friendly indeed, but opposing.
1T hardly seems reasonable that
under these circumstances the United
States should be pcnalized for comply
ing with the request of it's friends in
Europe to join them in the preserva-
ton of peace primarily for their benc-
ht, ana not Tor ours. by giving up our
right to self-protection, when that is
wholly unnecessary to accomplish the
object Of the agreement. I think
therefore, that these purely American
questions ought to be accepted from
the jurisdiction Of the executive coun-
Gil and body of delegates, and have
prepared and annexed hereto third
amendment in the form Of reserva-
ton, this being the method which was
followed without any objection to ac-
compllsh the same purpose at the
close Of both the Hague conferences.
Would Amend Article
The fourth point upon which think
tnere should be an amendment is
Article K. which contains the under
taking. ITO respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
league"
Looking at this article as a part of
perpetual league for the preserva-
ton Of peace, my first impression was
mat the whole article ought to be
stricken out. II perpetual it would be
an attempt to preserve for all time un-
changed the distribution of power and
territory made in accordance with tho
views and exigencies Of the Allies in
this present juncture of affairs. II
would necessarily be. futile. II would