The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-10

the assembly or the council of the
league of nations provided for in said
treaty of peace any questions which
in the judgment of the United States
depend upon or relate to its long-es-
tablshed policy, commonly known as
the Monroe Doctrine; said doctrine
is to be interpreted by the United
States alone, and is hereby declared
to be wholly outside the jurisdiction
of said league of nations and entirely
unaffected by any provision contained
in the said treaty of peace with Ger
many.
Alliance Is Charged
The purpose OF this reservation is
clear. 1t is intended to preserve the
! Monroe Doctrine from any interfer-
ence or Interpretation by foreign
powers. AS the Monroe Doctrine has
protected the United States, so. it is
| believed by the committee, will this
reservation protect the Monroe Doc
! trine from the destruction with which
it is threatened by Article q of the
covenant Of the league and leave it
| where it has always been, within the
| sole and complete control of the
United States.
This covenant of the league of ma
tions is an alliance and not a league
AS is amply shown by the provisions
OF the treaty with Germany which
vests all essential power in 5 great
nations. Those same nations. the prin-
cipal allied and associated powers, also
dominate the league through the
! council
2ND AID SENATE
The committee believe that the
! league as it stands will breed wars
instead Of securing peace. They also
believe that the covenant of the
| league demands sacrifices of American
independence and sovereignty which
would in no way promote the worlds
peace, but which are fraught with the
sravest dangers to the future safety
and well being of the United States.
The amendments and reservations
alike are governed by a single pur-
pose and that is to guard American
rights and American sovereignty, the
invasion of which would stimulate
breaches of faith, encourage conflicts,
and generate wars. The United States
lean serve the cause Of peace best, as
she has served it in the past and so
more to secure liberty and civilization
Throughout the world by proceeding
along the paths she has always follow
ed and by not permitting herself to
nations or immersed and entangled in
the broils and conflicts of Europe.
Preserve Natieai Freedom.
I'VE have heard it frequently said
that the United States must do this
and do that in regard to this league Of
nations and the terms of the German
peace. There IS no must about it.
Must is not word to be used by
foreign nations or domestic officials
to the American people or their repre-
sentatives. Equally uniting is the
attempt to frighten the unthinkins
by suggesting that of the senate
adopts amendments or reservations
the United States may be excluded
from the league. That is the one
thing that certainly will not happen
The other nations we'll know that
there lis no threat Of retaliation pos
sible with the United States because
we have asked nothing for ourselve.
and have received nothing. We seel
no guarantees, no territory, no com
merc;al benefits or advantages. The
other nations will take-us on our owr
atrms for without US their league is
wreck and all their gains from g
victorious peace are imperiled. We
exact nothing selfish for ourselves
} but we insist that we shall be the
judges, and the only judges, as to the
preservation Of our rights, our sover
eighty. our safety, and our independ
ence
AT this moment the United State
is free from any entanglements o
obligations which legally or in tn,
, name OF honor would compel her to d,
, anything contrary to the dictates o
, conscience or to the freedom and tn,
, interests of the American people. Thi
is the hour when we can say precise
, ly what we will do and exactly wha
we will not do, and no man can eve
, question our good faith if we speal
now. When We are once caught il
the meshes of a treaty of alliance O.
league Of nations composed of 2,
ether powers our freedom of action 1.
gone. To preserve American independ
ence and American sovereignty ant
thereby best serve the welfare of man
hind, the committee propose these
!, amendments and reservations"