The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-19
LENROOT ASSERTS
SENATE CAN MAKE
PEACE WITH HUN
Wisconsin Scion Says Upper
House Will Act If Wilson
Fails to Conclude SatiSfaC-
tory Terms With Germany.

WASHINGTON. March 1S.-If Presi-
oeht Wilson does not negotiate "a peace
treaty satisfactory to the senate, SEN
ator Lenroot, of Wisconsin, Republican.
said In an address on the league Of
nations before the Washington Com
mercial club here last night, congress
may pass a joint resolution summary
ending the war with Germany without
q treaty. leaving American participa-
determination.
Senator Lenroot declared he favored |
Tue general plan of the league as pro- !
posed, but would not be coerced into
yOtlhg Tor the constitution As now
Drawn without amendment.
Asserting that the United States to-
Jay IS IN "a most critical situation,
endangered by the plans for the league,
senator Lenroot continued:
we are told that the president will
not permit peace with Germany unless
mere Is made as part Of the peace
treaty the constitution Of the league |
as drawn in large part by Great Brit |
AIN. We are told that this will be done
TO force the enate to accept without
amendment this British constitution, |
reVolutionizing u government and its
foreign and domestic policies. In other
; words, the senate Is to be coeTced to
do something which 1t otherwise would
not do, and public opinion in America
Is thus to be coerced into demanding
ratification.
Defies President.
In my Judgment, President Wilson
mas once more %misjudged the temper
OF the American people and . "
the senate, | will not be coerced into
voting for the constitution OF the league
ana | am sure the senate will not be. |
me proposed constitution will be con-
sldered upon its merits > re-
RardlesS OF whether 1t Is coupled with
me peace treaty or not, If the con
stitution . . should not be amend
ed TO protect and safeguard the inter-
ests OF the United States. the senate
VIII propose such amendments as IL
may deem necessary"
Senator Lenroot said the supposed
club over the senate Of %postponing
peace Is stuffed with straw
adding;
TT does not seem to have occurred
TO the president that II he Is not willing
70 negotiate a treaty Of peace salts
factory to the American people, con-
gress may itself, and undoubtedly will,
pass a joint resolution declaring the
war with Germany terminated. The
constitution clothes congress with the
power Of declaring war, and the body
mat Is given this power unquestionably
has the power to terminate the war.
HARHtN w 4 dHhlIk |
Tor no annexations, no indemnities. We
have accomplished the purpose we had
when we declared war, n while II
would be advisable to nave a formal
treaty OF peace with Germany, 1t Is not
necessary.
Senate Can Act.
I'VE can declare the war has ended
and go on about our business. and
confidently predict that this is what
VIII be done II the treaty is not rati-
fled by the senate, The proposed league
OF nations will then have to be con-
sidered separately II 1t is considered
at all. BY this course the United States
viii lose nothing, for the obligations
imposed upon us by the proposed league
Tar outweigh any possible benefits COM
ing to US"
The senator quoted from an address
by President Wilson In 1914 In which
the executive said: I'VE should not
form alliances with any nation in the
world" and also from q statement by
former British Ambassador Bryce COM
mendlng the senate for ~'discouraglng
the executive from schemes = . for
foreign enterprises and 10 save the
country (the United States) from be-
ing e~ntangled with alliances, protecto-
rates, responsibilities of all sorts be-
yond It's w frontiers"
America does not need a league of
nations so much al a league OF ma
tons needs America" said the senator
in conclusion, and the American peo-
pie are willing to enter such a league
provided that the legitimate interests
OF America are properly ~safeguarded
which they are not in the constitution
as now proposed"