New-York tribune., 1919-02-25
Illinois Senator Upbraids
Opponents for Failing to
Refrain From Debate
Sees Sovereignty Retained
Administration ''Whip" De-
nies Surrender of Mon.
roe Doctrine Is Involved
NeW York Tribuns
WdshtnJto3a Bureau

'',So'ssfS1Ofs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24-Unwilline
to continue silent any longer in face of
the successive attacks by Democrats
and Republicans on the league of ma
tions plan, Senator James Hamilton
Lewis, of Illinois, Administration
"whip,' went to the defence Of the
President this afternoon.
His speech was the first made in the
Senate in support of the plan since the
text of the league constitution was
made public. He bitterly upbraided the
opponents of the scheme for their fail
ure to observe the Presidents request
that there be no debate on the sub
ject until after the Chief Executive
had had opportunity to take members
of the House and Senate Foreign Af-
fairs committees into his confidence
next Wednesday night at a dinner ne
will give them at the White House.
Transgression Denied
Discussing the terms Of the league
constitutions itself, the Senator from
Illinois denied they transgress the
warnings of Washington and Jefferson
against entangling alliances, or involve
a surrender of the Monroe Doctrine.
Article X of the league constitution,
he undertook to say, was undoubtedly
written by the President himself as a
means of extending the Monroe Doc
trine to the entire world. Article X
reads:
"The high contracting parties shall
undertake to respect and preserve as
against external aggression the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence of all states members of
the league. In case Of any such ag-
gression, or in case Of any threat or
danger of any such aggression, the
executive council shall advise upon
the means by which the obligation
shall be fulfilled"
Reed and Borah Take Notes
Just before Senator Lewis started
TO speak. Senator Cummins, of Iowa,
Republican, gave notice Of his inten-
tion to address the Senate on the
league Of nations on Wednesday,
Senator Lodge, Of Massachusetts. the
ranking Republican member of the
eign Relations Committee, will speak
Friday, two days after the President
holds his conference on the league
plan with the members of the House
and Senate Foreign Relations commit
T clrr L. ~
on Saturday by Senator Knox, of
Pennsylvania, Secretary of State in
the Administration Of President Taft,
and by Senators Vardaman, of Missis-
sippi, and Hardwick, or Georgia Demo-
Gratis.
During the time the Illinois Senator
was speaking Senator Borah, of Idaho,
leading the opposition to the league,
was taking copious notes, and occa-
sionally Senator Reed, of Missouri,
who spoke in opposition to the plan
on Saturday, would make memoran-
dun of something Senator Lewis said.
The popular interest in the discus
sion of the league was shown again
to-day by the crowded galleries.
Senator Lewis's Speech
Senator Lewis said in part:
III Woodrow Wilson were Roman
NoVliiuc, CHdISeu ny cicero with
conspiracy to surrender his land to the
enemy of his country, and Taft a mod
ern Aaron Burr, they could not have
been more violently impugned than
each has been by the leaders of the op-
position to the league of nations. Yet
the head and front of the offending
by these two first citizens Of our re-
public, is but to do the will of God
and fulfil the prayer of Christ for
peace on earth and good will to men.
Nothing SO proved the animosity to
Wilson's success in any design as the
refusal to grant his his request, cabled
as he sailed for America, to postpone
discussions { the league until he could
arrive and explain the circumstances
of its formation. The fact that there
would be months after Wilson returns
to Paris for the conclusion of this
work, in which discussion of every
nature could be had, was of no in
fiuence on those who preferred to ex-
hibit everywhere their defiance OF any
request he might make
Balance of Power Provided
"The reasons urged as a justification
for the assault have, | declare, no
grounds in the contents of the docu-
ment 1t is said that the document
violates our policy against alliances
with foreign governments as opposed
by Washington. | answer that the
document prevents what Washington
opposed-partial alliances by America
with any foreign country, even were
her statesmen so inclined. 1t requires
two-thirds of all to permit any war
| or peace action with one. The consti-
tuition of the league prohibits the pos
slbillty of political alliance with any
! European power by balancing agains /
the European the Asiatic, Japan and
all OF South America. The army and
navy of the United States are provided
ior IN the charter by words, as Of a
kind that she shall by her situation
and peculiar geography personally
aaopt and personally control.
:, 1t ls asserted by the opponents Of
Sne plan that it violates the principle
OF the Monroe Doctrine, which guar
antees the countries Of South and Cen
tral America from aggression by Euro
pean countries. 1t was to prevent this
very assumption that section 10 of the
charter pledged all of the governments
IN the league to resist aggression by
any on any state or government of
any state. The words of this sec
ton 10 are taken from the spirit of
the resolution passed by The Hague
feace Conference in 1907, resolving to
preserve the Monroe Doctrine in any
treaty Of or alliance Of world nations
for world peace.
Asks Reason for False Fear
1T is this that Wilson pledged in his