Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-26
The League Of Nations TansIs

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the Senate and has devised for them
Q way out Of the dilemma in which
they ind themselves in the matter OF
the peace treaty and the league Of
nations not yet officially before them.
The publication Of his letter to Sen
ator Lodge may be considered as the
preliminary step In the surrender
which the Senate opponents OF the
league Of nations must now recog-
mise to be inevitable. and they ap-
parently see In the project outlined
by the astu:e Mr.. Root a method by
which they cannot only save their
own face but at the same time save
the Republican patty. in part. at
least, from the embarrassments
caused by their ill.considered course
Of action.
The nation may Of may not b Dc.
eaived into believing that the recent
maneuvers Of the Lodge Knox Borah
combination were solely actuated by
disintersstsd patriotism and that
partisanIsm did not enter into their
program to tear up the peace treaty
ana 70 delay indefinitely any settle.
msat with the framing Of which
President Wilson has had . hand.
But % imperative does the country
regard the early completion Of the
peace and the establishment Of some
sort es . league Of nations 70 stand
IA The way os another world war that
there viii b Q general disposition to
regard with approval Mr.. Roots plan
Of Z ratification with reservations
and explanations al an adrott way OF
meeting legitimate criticisms Of GER
tain details Of the league project
without Destroying It or putting the
Uuitod States In tho position 81 de.
laying tho peace or Of parting COM
psny with our comrades in arms.
Even the warmest advocates OF the
treaty and its provisions have not
given their support to 1t without GER
tain reservations, and there has al
ways been the understanding that
ratification Of the compact did not by
any means preclude notifications OF
it's terms through the medium of the
league itself when it should have be-
gun to function. Mr.. Root is tender
Of the feelings Of his former asso-
ciates In the Senate. He tells them
that the league provisions ought to
be separated from the peace provis-
ions were such a thing possible. He
would like to seesincorporated in the
treaty some definite provisions for
the re- establishment Of a system OF
international arbitration and for the
formulation Of a code Of information.
al law. But a. there is no opportun-
ity Of bringing this about at this
stage of the conference. he advises
ratification with certain reservations
as to the guarantee by the league OF
present territorial arrangements and
possessions and an Interpretation OF
the American understanding with re-
spect to the control of purely domes-
tic relations, and especially as to the
Monroe Doctrine.
Mr.. Root. however. Is not blinded
by passion or partisanship. He sees
tho impossibility Of the present po-
sition Of the Senate. and he rightful-
~ forsees the impossibility OF the
Knox resolution. And he recognizes
the supreme importance to the world
Of the principle underlying the
league Of nations project and the
peril Of rejecting the opportunity OF
attaining the ends the league Is de-
signed to serve. The American con-
science and common sense will be in
hearty accord with him In the deeply
Significant passage Of his letter 10
Mr.. Lodge, whereby he warns against
a nat rejection by the Senate.-Phil-
adelphia Public Ledger.
What a pity that this distinguished
group Of statesmen and their satel-
lites could not have sooner under
stood the public determination and
thus have saved time that the coun-
try sorely needs. and bitterness and
embarrassment that were needless!
The broad hint. several days ago.
from former Senator Root that OPP
pensnts Of tho League were neglect
ing Important business served only to
raise q laugh: now he ad- oitly tells
them that there are ways enough in
which to secure what the people de-
sire and that the Covenant contains
q great deal Of high value (which
the world ousht not to les,."
unfeundsd Statements
The oft-rspeated and wholly un-
founded declaration that the Cove
nant violates every principle Of the
country" outraSes the common sense