The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-07
BRITISH BALLOON TOSTART.
HOME AT DAWN TUESDAY
M'AD0O SAYS WORLD
DEPENDS ON LEAGUE
RESERVATIONS WOULD
UNDO WORK DONE.
Urges That Covenant Be Rat
flied First and Amended
Later.

Columbus, o., July 7.-Upholding
the league Of nations covenant In the
peace treaty. William G. McAdoo.
former secretary of the United
States treasury, in an address at
the Methodist centenary celebration
here July 4, declared that we are
now facing the most critical situa-
| tion in which the world has ever
found itself-tbe disposition OF our
victory" dt4
In making this statement Mr.. Nc
Adoo asked: "Shall we dispose of 1t
as narrow and heartiess politicians
would have us do, SO that human
slaughter through war must still be
the arbiter of the destiny of nations.
or shall we so dispose Of 1t that the
glorious goai for which humanity has
striven through thousands, of years
of unspealSable misery. torture, and
sacrifice shall be- realized. the, con-
solidation and organization Of our
victory so that judicial progress shall
be substituted for the legalized muir
der OF war in the settlement of in
ternationai' disputes, and the peace
of the world secured through the CO.
operative effort of the great nations
of the world?" Egi
I'VE must not permit any man or
set of men, he said, ito destroy the
league of nations; we must not per-
init any man or set of men to emas-
culate it: we must not permit any
man or set of men to put the peace
of the world again in peril. The Is
sue Ia SO momentous that the very
future of civilization Is at stake. and
humanity from every stricken quar-
ter of the suffering world cries out in
agony to Christianity to save It, We
are face to face with prodigious
events when blind men must not be
permitted to lead"
The opposition to the league OF ma
tions, MIR. McAdoo said. is analogous to
that against the federal constitution
when it was in the making and up ior
ratification by the senate. They de-
nounce the league of nations just as
the opponents of the federal constitu-
ton denounced 1t, as the most das-
taldly attempt ever made against lib
critics of free people.
Represents' Allies Principles.
"The terms of the treaty" he said.
"are of course unsatisfactory to Ger
many. OF course, they are not en-
tirely satisfactory. to each and every
one of the nations signatory thereto.
Such a treaty. OF necessity, Is the re-
suit of compromises and Is as near an
approach as possible to the principles
and ideals of those who framed 1t,
Germany may regard the terms as
harsh. but of one thing the world Is
certain that unless the consequences
of breach of world peace by any ma
ton are made so serious and formid-
able that they will exhaust every con-
ceiyable means for the settlement of
disputes before resorting to war the
peace of the world cannot be secured
in the future
'sBy providing in the treaty with
Germany for the trial Of the kaiser
and the military leaders who. with
him. precipitated the most murderous
war of all history. we have estab-
lished the great principle of personal
guilt of monarch who misuses his
power and brings suffering upon hui
manitY. We have served notice upon
the responsible rulers of the world that
they cannot make unprovoked war
without standing trial at the bar of an
international court and expiating their
crime II found guilty. The trial of the
kaiser is not for vengeance; 1t Is for
justice" ga
Regarding the elimination Of Article
X. from the covenant. as urged by for
mer Senator Root and others. Mr.. Nc
Adoo said:
'"ro eliminate this guarantee is to
extract the red corpuscles from the
biOOu vi tiiC lCuSuC VI lldtiOuS W
render it a weak and anaemic institu-
ton, incapable of fulfilling the purpose
Of its creation"
Most of the objections to the cove
nant. he said, are based upon miscon-
ceptions or misinterpretations OF its
provisions, or upon exaggerated and
unfounded fears as to it's operations.
mo amendment of the league of
nations, no reservations in the ratifica-
ton of the league by the senate OF
the United States, can be effected with
out imminent peril to the future of
the world and without prolonging the
state of war. We cannot risk the un-
doing of all that has been accom-
plished by forcing another peace con-
ference at Paris. Let us ratify the
league of nations covenant first and
then amend it afterward, If necessary.
This Is the safest plan"