The sun., 1919-03-01
to prevent another Jurisdiction what


pointing out that II was not binding upo
nations not members Of the league. II
suppose we had Mexican raid
across our border and Mexico does
not happen to be n member Of the
league? That 1 think would be n
little hard on the people who live
on the border. ] do not think even
being n member of the league Is
going to alter the Mexican character
materially, although 1t may.
81 do not think II is hypercriti-
cism to suggest that when n manda-
tory Is to be elected to take charge
or the fortunes of another state
there should be Some provision for
the selection Of the mandatory and
II should be made clear whether the
nation 30 selected Is bound.
FINALLY the Senate will observe
that there Is no provision for with
drawal. and an indissoluble treaty
without the right OF withdrawal is
very unusual II you leave n ooun-
try am not speaking merely OF
the United SATISFIED hard and
fast so that they cannot get out OF
this league without tearing every
thing TO pieces by denouncing Il or
by abrogating II, you create a sit
uation which in my mind does not
promote the peace OF nations but
the very reverse.
when the United States enters
into an indissoluble permanent al
iiance there ought TO be. as / have
said. no uncertainties in the terms
or the agreement. l earnestly de-
sire to do everything that can be
N nf
world. but these articles as they
stand In this proposed constitution
seem to give rich promise of being
fertile In producing controversies
and Observation-Disclosures. They also
mako some demands which do not
believe any nation would submit
to In time of stress.
Therefore this machinery would
not promote the peace of the world,
but would have a directly oppo-
site effect. 1t would tend to in
crease tho subjects of misunder-
standing and dispute among tho ma
tions. Is It not possible to draft !.
better. mora explicit. less dangerous
scheme than the one here and now
presented? Surely we are not to l,O
shut up to this as the last and only
word TO take or leave.
Can Save Monroe Doctrine.
III II Is said that you can pre-
serve the Monroe Doctrine by ex-
tending It. which appears to me
clearly to mean Its destruction and
to be a contradiction in terms, then
let us put three lines into the draft
for the league which will preserve
the Monroe Doctrine beyond any
possibility of doubt or question. It
Is easily done. Let US also have. IL
We enter the league, a complete .x-
clusion from tho leagues jurisdic-
ton OF such questions as are in
volved in immigration and the right
OF each country to say who shall
come within Its borders and become
citizens. This and certain other
questions vital to national exist
ence ought to be exempted from any
control by the league or it's officials
by very few words. such as can
be found In the arbitration treaties
eS1s67.
There should be some definite
provision for peaceful withdrawal
from the league of any nation which
desires to withdraw.
Lastly. let us have definite
league as to whether the league IL
to have an international force of its
own or Is to have the power to sum-
mon the armed forces OF the different
members of the league. Let It he
stated in plain language whether the
measures the recommendation
or the suggestions OF the executive
council are to be binding upon tho
members OF the league and are to
compel them TO do what the league
delegates and the executive council
determines to be necessary.
ION the question OF the use Of
force we should not proceed in tho
dark. II those who support the
league decline to make such simple
statements as these. It is impos-
sible TO avoid the conclusion that
they are seeking 10 do by indirection
and the use of nebulous phrases
what they are not willing to do d.
rectly. and nothing could be more
fatal TO the preservation of tho
worlds peace than this. for every
exercise OF power by the executive
council which the slgnatories to tho
league might fairly consider to be
doubtful would lead to very perllous
controversies and to menacing dis
sensions.
Might he BETTER Constitution.
Unless some better constitution
for n league than this can be drawn
II seems to me. after such examina-
ton as have been able TO give that
tho worlds peace would be much
better, much more surely promoted,
by allowing the United States TO go
on under the Monroe Doctrine, re-
sponsible for the peace OF this hem
isphere without any danger OF col
lision with Europe az to questions
among the various American States,
and IL a league Is desired II misht be
made up by the European nations
whose interests are chiefly concerned
and with which the United States
could cooperate fully and at any
time whenever cooperation was
needed.
II suppose l shall make myself
the subject OF derision for quoting
from tho Farewell Address. hut II
states n momentous truth so ad-
mirably that I cannot refrain from
quoting II, for I think II ought TO
he borne IN mind. Washington says:
Europe has a set Of primary In
tercsts which IN use have none or a
very remote relation. Hence she must
y. eREaST' IN frequent controv erHies
the csNs~N - which are ess ntiRlS for
eign TO our concerns, Hence. therefore,
II must be unwise In US u imp,icats
ourselves by ARTIFICIAL ties In the orii-
nary vicissitudes of her politics or the
ordinary combinations and collisions OF
her friendships or enmities.'
ut also must be remembered that
~ the United States enters any
league OF nations II does so for the
benefit OF the world ut large and not
for It's own benefit. Tho people OF
the United States are n peace loving
people. We have no boundaries to
rectify. no schemes, and no desires
for the acquisition or conquest OF