The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-26
TO SUBMERCEU.S S.
Cummins Says League as Out
lined Has s'POlyglOt Powers"
Tells What Part of Policy He
Can Accept as Given.
URGES HASTE IN PEACE WORK
Submission of Questions, Terri
tOriaI Guarantees Hit.
Allows There Is Some Good
But More Bad Parts.

Washington, Feb. 26.-WhiIe de-
claring his full sympathy with the
purpose to form an international peace
| tribunal Senator Cummins of Iowa,
Republican, declared in an address to-
day in the senate that he was opposed
to the proposed constitution of the
league of nations because he believed
some of its provisions would strike at
American sovereignty.
Presenting the outline of the agree
ments he would favor, Senator Cum
minis said the league draft as present
| ed at Paris would form a world ma
tion," with "polyglot" and incoherent
! American republic. In the course of
| his address he urged speedy conclu-
! sion of peace treaty with Germany
and immediate Inauguration of recon-
/ struction work to avert unrest. The
| Iowa senator expressed approval of
many of the provisions of the tenta-
| tive charter of the world league
Those he attacked deal with submits
sion of national questions, disarma-
ment and provision for manufactures
and for reciprocal territorial guaran-
tees.
Would Vote Against 1t.
| There is some good in it, (the pro-
| posed constitution), said Senator Cum
minis. There is more that is bad in it,
As now proposed I would unhesitating-
IL.
In preparing definite proposals for a
! league which he declared could be
! formed without any surrender of
American sovereignty, Senator Cum
| minis said:
First, We ought to agree and all
! other nations ought to agree that JUS
ticiable disputes-those issues which
can be determined by the application
of recognized law to esta blished facts
should be settled either by arbitra-
ton or by adjudication; and we ought
! to agree and all other nations ought
to, agree without equivocation or re-
serve that we will abide by and per-
form the award or judgment.
Hold Back on War.
Second, we ought to agree, and all
other nations ought to agree, that
| with respect to other national disputes
war shall not be made until some
permanent, regular, international body
shall have a fair opportunity to dis
cuSS and examine it. Upon such
questions there should be no award,
no judgment, and the sanction should
be confined to moral influences which
time. thought and free discussion will
awaken.
Third, If any nation should refuse
! to submit a proper controversy to
judgment or refuse to perform the
Judgment. when rendered or refuse to
DELAY war, l am willing to agree that
flicted.
Program for Disarmament.
Fourth, the compact should con-
tain a program of disarmament, ana
after all in disarmament lies the hope
of permanent peace The constitution
proposed is most disappointing in this
regard for a careful study gives US
little right to believe that there will
be any disarmament among the strong
powers
The Iowa senator said the proposed
constitution would. "neutralize all the
benefits of a peaceful settlement OF
disputes between nations affirmat1Vely
destroy the national structure, and
commit the United States to a course
which must end in humiliation ans
Disaster" Some of the provisions he
asserted were in direct conflict with
the United States constitution and un-
!, der the charter this nation would
cease to be distinct"
Most Destructive Yet.
Analysing the principal provisions
of the leagues constitution, Senator
Cummins said Article 10, providing
guara ntees against aggression for po
: litical and territorial independence
among states is the most destructive
unjust and revolutionary proposal ever
submitted"
of ob1oquy,' he declared. I'VE are
solemnly asked to guarantee that the
} boundaries of nations, as they nov
exist or when the peace conference
has redrawn the map of Europe, Asia
Africa and Oceanica, shall remain
without change forever"
= The leagues provision for manda
: tories was attacked by Cummins as the
grossest violation of our powers under
constitution.
t 1T is all too absurd to contemplate,
he said. when the American peopl'
{ reflect upon such proposal they will
! reject it with all the emphasis o
> unanimity.''
. Is An Incredible Plan.
: Article Fifteen of the charter, sail
| Senator Cummins, would require sub
mission of domestic questions to tn
1 league, which he added, is incredible
He cited a an example, the American
policy of Chinese and Japanese exclu
sion as a question which would b
left to the league council.
. Referring to recent statements o.
|. the league by former President Taft
the senator said Mr.. Taft had bee
| conspicuously unfair and uncandid.
Quoting President Wilson's plea i
Paris for Justice to peoples ''Who e
to bed tired and wake up without tn
stimulation of lively hope" Senate
Cummins said, in conclusion: The
understand their wrongs and they ar