New-York tribune., 1919-01-16
Declares League
Will mot Obstruct
Monroe Doctrine
Lord Robert Cecil Asserts
Repentant Germany Can
Have Voice, But Austria
Is Not Due for Admission

PARIS, Jan. 15.-Lord Robert Cecil,
who discussed with American journal
lists his views as to the work Of q
league of nations, had little to say
relative to the limitation of arma-
ments. He expressed the opinion that
the league of nations certainly would
provide for the limitation and decrease
OF present armaments."
He declared that this feature of the
work to be done is being given deepest
consideration, although no definite
agreement has as vet been reached
lie said that the league, if formed,
would do away with all treaties incon-
sistent with its tenets, including COM
pacts providing for a balance of power.
Monroe Doctrine Upheld
Asked what effect the formation of
a league of nations would have upon
the Monroe Doctrine, Lord Robert as
serted he could see no conflict with the
doctrine
Hypothetical questions were raised
as to what would happen in case Mex
lea or a South American country did
something that caused trouble with the
league, and Lord Robert replied:
"Then, l think an arrangement could
be made by which America could act
in behalf of the league"
Germany Must Repent
Regarding the admission of the Cen
trail Powers and their allies to the
league, Lord Robert said they should
be admitted, "if they showed an in
clination to do the right thing"
I'VE must await events" he said.
III Germany turns over a new leaf and
tries to repair the damage she has done
there is no reason why she should not
join. The league is for the good of
humanity, and not for any select group.
1t will benefit her if she comes in
Austria, because of her internal con-
dition, is not yet ready for the league,
Lord Robert said. Dealing with
another specific instance, he declared it
would be an inj Justice to exclude Bo-
hemia, saying: "She was not to blame
for the war and is progressive"
Lord Robert said that the league
might in some cases take over adj
ministrative control Of certain terri
tories of great international interest.
He said that Palestine and Constanti-
nople might be in this class. He stated
that he accepted President Wilson $
view that the league must be consti-
tuted by the present peace congress,
adding: "Otherwise it will become an
impossiblity''
Details TO Come Later
Lord Robert felt that the peace con-
gress should get some approval of
principles at the beginning of the
meeting, but was of the opinion that
the details should be worked out with
care by committees, which should re-
port to the peace congress.
Questioned as to the attitude of the
Allies as whole toward the league,
Lord Robert said that every one Of
them favored a league Of some sort and
that they were not separated by any
vital point.
AS to the scope of the league, he said
there were still many purely legal dis
putes between nations, which he
thought ought to be settled by an
arbitration tribunal outside the league.
Publicity to Halt Wars
In discussing the probable efficacy
of the plan to force them to bring
their disputes before the tribunal of
the league, Lord Robert deN1 red
"If we had had con ference on the
reply of Serbia to Austria, and had not
allowed them to fight for set period
there would have been no war If the
situation had been known to the world
no nation could have forced its people
to fight"