The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-16
SENATORS WARY
ON LEAGUE PLAN
Danger Of Loss Of American
Independence Seen by Some
Who Offer Comment.
MONROE DOCTRINE ISSUE
Congressman Talk Of Breach of
Faith in Wilson'S Omission
to Advise Them First.
MONROE DOCTRINE ISSUE
Special DespatcA to TEE SUI.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE League
Of Nations constitution has hardly
been received by the United States
Senate with what might be termed
universal cordiality. Just as on yes
terday again to-day several leading
statesmen OF both parties insist upon
Withholding comment until the matter
is squarely before the Senate either in
the form of a resolution to express the
approval Of that body or a treaty sub
ject to ratification. But on the other
hand several Senators ranking high in
the councils of both parties expressed
themselves to-day. some in praise and
some in criticism of the measure.
Partlsanship, OF course. played some
part in the comment on the constitu-
ton. Nearly all the Democrats who
would talk at all had something nice to
say about the document. The Repub-
licans. for the most part, were indis-
posed to admit that the constitution
was satisfactory or even worth while.
| One thing stood out definitely In the
comment OF all those who criticised the
document. That was that II based
upon this constitution America shall
enter into a peace treaty in which
there is disclosed similar tendency
toward the REIMBURSEMENT OF nation
ality and the substitution of interna-
tionalism for Americanism such a
measure will not be ratified in the
Senate.
Ire over white House Dinner.
There was Indignation expressed on
! all sides when word was transmitted
| from the press gallery to the Senate floor
| that President Wilson had invited the
/ Foreign Affairs Committee OF the House
and the Foreign Relations Committee
| Of tho Senate to dine at the Whito
| House on the night OF February rs, at
which time he would discuss with them
soriatim the various articles of the pro-
posed world confederation, and that
| meanwhile he earnestly requested Sena-
| tors would refrain from discussion or
| the Lea que of Nations in their debates
che principal occasion for the ire OF
the Senators was not 20 much the re-
President almost in the same breath
let 1t be known that he would make
two speeches between the time of his
arrival at Boston next week and his
Congressional dinner party.
The first immediate effect OF the re-
ceipt OF the text of the League OF Ma
tions Constitution has been to revive
again the determination of Congress to
have Its own representatives in France
In close touch with the deliberations OF
the Peace Conference. The suggestion
now IL that a member Of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee and MEM
ber OF the House Affairs Committee go
to France and attend sessions of the in
terpa rlia mentary conference.
The chief reason for the revival OF
! this is due to what Is regarded as n
breach OF faith by the President in keep
ing Congress completely In the dark
while the constitution OF the proposed
world league was being prepared and
Their giving 1t out to the entire world In
conplcted form Congress members re-
call the assurance given them by the
President In his speech at the opening
OF the session. In which he said In effect
that he would keep them advised over
every development.
Monroe Doctrine in Balance.
Relinquishment Of the necessary de-
gree Of nationalim for the preservation
of Americas 3 national integrity and SOW
ereignty and the extinction for all time
OF the Monroe Doctrine were the vital
points OF criticism advanced by the Sena-
tors who were willing TO be interviewed
on the merits OF the document in ques-
ton.
II was a noticeable thing that neither
Republican Leader Lodge (Mass.) nor
Democratic Leader Martin (Va.) ad'
yanced any views whatever on the sub
! ject OF the league. Also among those
, who sat silent. refusing to discuss the
, Conttnued on Seventh Pa1a