Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-07-15
DEFENDS PACT
CONTINUED from Page ons)

lmOOS or nave tnS uHduiHlouS Con'
currencs of the council upon which
the United States is permanently rep
resented The League could never
be organized on any basis other
than that Of equal representation. II
members were accorded difference
in representation, upon what basis
should the apportionment be made?
II upon population, China and India
would dominate the League and the
United States would have one one
fifteenth of the number. II based
upon wealth and military power. the
situation would be equally as uncer-
tain and unsatisfactory.
what better plan for disarma-
ment could be devised? The council
is directed to prepare a general plan
of disarmament for the constdera-
ton Of the governments, which plan
Is not binding upon any Of the states
until approved by that state. Under
our government, the proposed plan
to be effective in binding US must
have the sanction Of Congress, which
is entrusted under the constitution
with the power Of raising armies and
equipping the navy.
Under article ten each member
Of the League undertakes, first. to
respect the territorial integrity and
political independence Of all other
members Of the League. When the
nations Of the world, sobered by sor-
row and suffering. are willing to
raise their hands and take their SOL
emn pledge, are we sulleniy ana
stubbornly to stand aside and be-
come :. stumbling block in the way
Of this noble achievement? Do any
Of them have possessions that we
view with covetous eyes and pro-
pose to seize and annex.
by each member is to preserve as
against external aggression the ter
ritorial integrity and existing politi-
cal independence Of all members of
the league This is natural corol-
larry from the first. In the former
we undertake not to rob our associ-
ates ourselves and in this we agree
not to permit others to do so. This
guarantee of territorial integrity and
pOiAIASol itloCPSh3SANO 40 AAAAASSo ~
those cases where they are threaten
ed or attacked by external agrees
sion and does not apply to revolution
within a nation. A nations internal
affairs are left undisturbed. Nation
atty with it's vital stimulating patri-
otism would be preserved. given
new life and opportunity.
Thoughtful persons recognize the
importance Of giving such a guar
antee now. at least for a limited
period if the peace Of the world il 70
be maintained. The autocratic gov
crnments that controlled Russia,
Germany, Austria and Turkey have
been overthrown but as yet no real
stable governments established. Some
Of the new states created out Of this
immense territory. without the guar
antee Of the League. would be over
thrown and would return to the
domination OF their former oppres-
sors.
Hon. Elihu Root, former secretary
OF state recognized the great imnedi-
ate need of this article and recon-
mended it's acceptance with an
amendment providing that any MEM
Der could after expiration Of FIVE
years from the signing of the cove
nant terminate Its obligations under
the article. But under this cove
nant the United States by giving no
tice of withdrawal from the league,
can limit her obligations to a time
not far to exceed two years. I this
Dc rNfiHnd he v~Sx
can fully perform her obligations to
her allies. discharge her duties to the
new nations she has aided in creating,
and then honorably retire.
1T should be noted that when In
this article We guarantee the terri
toral integrity of all members of
the league we receive at the same
time from all of them a like guaran-
tee OF our territorial possessions. The
Philippine Islands have occasioned us
great apprehension. In order to safe
guard these islands, it will be neces-
sary Tor US in the present disturbed
condition OF tho world to construct
the largest navy afioat and have an
army equal to that Of any nation.
shau We embrk upon this grea. mil
ltary expense or accept the league
and with 1t the honorable pledge
that Great Britain and Japan, the
only two nations from which the Is.
lands could ever be threatened. would
aid IN preserving them from ali exrer-
nal aggression?
I'VE should also reflect that the
Panama canal and the islands own
ca oy us in the Caribbean are out.
lying territories. Is our hold upon the
canal lessened or strengthened by
this article?
The article provides In case of
any such aggression the council
snail ADVISE upon means by which
This obligation shall be fulflled.' The
recommendation Of the
council is only advisory. Thus un-
der Article 10 no troops. OF the Unit.
ed States could be sent to engage in
war without the advice of her repre-.
sentative in the council and the an.
prevail of her Congress"
Answering objections to the arti-
Gle affecting the Monroe Doctrine.
which guarantees the validity Of en-.
sagements such as treaties Or ar.
hifration or regional UNDERSTANDING
like the Monroe Doctrine for secur.
Ing the maintenance Of peace" Sen.
ator Swanson declared the article IN.
oouotedly made "a clear. explicit
reservation" OF the doctrine.
II any conflict should aris. n.
tween the provisions Of the covenant
and the Monroe Doctrine" he said
as far as we MA rooc>..>S ~,