The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-18
Proposed Form of League
Would Destroy Liberty,
Senator Says.
WAR MENACE is Barred
Peace Terms Ratification
Without Nations Pact
Urged as Safeguard.
FOREIGN TANGLES SEEN
Think Well Before Endanger-
ing Security of Years, Plea
Against Haste.
FOREIGN TANGLES SEEN
Special Despofch to The srx.

Special Despdrch TO The srS.
WASHINGTON, June 1T.-With a
studied moderation of manner and
phrase that made his damaging
charges only the more impressive
Senator Knox (Pa.) this afternoon
attacked the League Of Nations cove
nant. The Senator vigorously implied
trickery in the covenant phrases
through which, as he contended, it Is
designed to destroy the cherished
Monroe Doctrine while pretending to
safeguard 1t. Reading the clause Of
the revised league covenant bearing
on this point he declared:
Il am bound In ali soberness to
say the author of this language
either had n profound ignorance Of
what the Monroe Doctrine is or is
determined to make out of 1t some
thing it Is not and ought not to be.
In either event the result of the
league provision is the same-it
completely wipes out the Doctrine
as accepted and enforced for a
hundred years."
The Senator disclaimed, however,
that he was undertaking detailed
analysis of the demerits of the league
covenant. He was. making an argu-
ment for his resolution, which seeks
TO reserve to this country the right
to ratify the peace treaty without
at the same time accepting the league
covenant and thus to secure time for
adequate study Of the latter.
Speech Direct to Point.
1t was Characteristic Knox speech,
closely reasoned, every word chosen
with precise purpose of its exact con-
tribution; no flamboyance and little
oratory. 1t dealt precisely with the
business in hand, the demand that
the Knox resolution be passed so that
without delaying peace one hour this
country may have opportunity to con-
slider the new policy on which 1t Is
being asked to enter.
Senator Knox did not move formally
TO take up his resolution, and so the
parliamentary struggle that was an
tcipated did not begin. He rose when
the agricultural appropriation bill
WAS under consideration and asked
the privilege OF delivering his address
without displacing the bill. Senator
Gronna IN. D)O, in charge OF the
measure, readily consented.
Mr.. McCumber IN. d. had intended
10 follow Mr.. Knox with a pro-league
speech, but when Mr.. Knox had con-
cluded he asked to be allowed to post
pone his address till tomorrow on ac-
count of the late hour. At that time
he will discuss the league covenant
and treaty with a view to determine
whether there is substantial reason
for the demand that they be divorced
and given consideration.
While the Knox speech was a pow
erful contribution to the discussion 1t
did not bring any closer the parlia-
mentary test that all sides are await
ing. Senator Lodge (Mass). the Re-
publican leader, is still absent from
Washington and not expected to re-
turn until Friday. 1t is now doubted
whether the discussion will be pushed
before his return to the point OF
determination even of the preliminary
lineup regarding the Knox measure.
1t was noticed to-day that public in
terest in the League of Nations discus
sion continues unhagging. Hours before
Mr. Knox was expected to take the floor
galleries were packed and corridors
thronged with people unable to gain ad-
mittance. This has marked the discus
sion ever since It opened last winter. Not
IN many years has any public question
apparently appealed so powerfully to the
interest of Washington people who ordi-
narily pay no hattering compliment to
Congress by attending its sittings
Senator Knox's Speech.
Senator Knox's speech follows:
Mr.. President: One point / must
make at the outset, for It is vital and
fui damental not only to all that / shall
cay but likewise to all that any other
Senator has said or shall say during
ttis debate: The resolution before us
does not call for a vote for or against
the League of Nations; 1t does not call
Tor even an expression OF an opinion
either for or against the League. On
these points, this resolution is wholly
colorless. This resolution asks merely
ard solely that the treaty embodying the
League shall be In words 30 framed
Continued on T.oeItth Page.