The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30
WILL ROUSE NATION
TO FIGHT COVENANT
League of American Indepen-
dence Warns Against Forced
Amendments.
"ADDS TO PATCHWORK"
European Control Would Con-
tinue, Even With Monroe
Clause Added.
"ADDS TO PATCHWORK"
Special DespdteA TO TIE suS.

Special Despdtch to TIE sun.
WASHINGTON, March 2s.-A vigorous
campaign to arouse the American peo-
pie Of the danger Of accepting the Will
son covenant for . League OF Nations
with hasty amendments. will be under
taken Immediately by the League for
the Preservation of American Indepen-
dence. OF which Henry watterson OF
louisville Is president Headquarters
VIII be opened at once In New York
with Henry A. Wise Wood as secretary
and the league will continue its eight
In support OF the Senators who are
opposing the Wilson plan. Its declara-
tion or principles and the details OF
It's organization probably will be an.
nounced from Washington in few days
George Wharton Pepper Of Philadel-
phia. chairman of tho league. issued
statement here tonight outlining Its
immediate purposes as follows:
Eleventh hour amendments to an
important document need to be
scrutinized with even greater care
than the original provisions. The
danger is that amendments made to
meet adverse criticism and made by
those who do not really sympath!ze
with the point OF view Of the critic
Will merely make the constitution
more OF patchwork than II was
originally. The advisory function OF
the Senate OF the United States thus
becomes more important than ever.
There are three great safeguards
against war. The most potent Is the
memory OF what has happened. The
eecond Is a prompt settlement OF the
questions which are to-day convuls-
Ing Europe The third Is a League OF
Nations deliberately considered by
"a
planned as to include all the pro-
visions in the pending constitution
that tend to obstruct war and to ex-
clude all those provisions that tend
to make war certain.
THE constitution OF the League of
Nations In its present form binds the
United States TO submit to the Coun-
ell OF Nine all disputes not regarded
by US IS suitable for arbitration. The
first time such a dispute arises and
our one vote is buried by eight Euro
pean votes. II we are convinced that
We cannot yield to hostile European
opinion. we shall not only find our
selves at war with our adversary but
as covenant breakers we shall be at
war with the world. Cases under the
Monroe Doctrine are only q few of
the cases which may thus arise. To
let the vicious system stand and
make a Monroe Doctrine amendment
is like disinfecting one reighboring
swamp ard leaving ten TO breed dis
ease"
Hitchcock Predicts Ratiaca ton.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb.), retiring
chairman OF the Foreign Relations Com
mittee. returned to-day to Washington
from his recent speaking trip and as.
serted his belief that the Senate would
ratify the peace treaty with the League
OF Nations covenant attached and would
reject any amendment preserving the
Monroe Doctrine II such reservation was
not made in the covenant agreed upon
In Paris and were offered independently
on the floor.
do you think II an amendment were
offered In the Senate to preserve TIE
Monroe Doctrine there would be enough
votes to beat it?'' the Senator was
asked.
Il think there would"
Mr.. Hitchcock said he believed the
people OF the country were beginning
to grasp the tremendous Importance OF
the league covenant and that he hoped
that sentiment would crygtali1e euffi-
GENTLY when the treaty comes before
the Senate to make its ratification GER
tain.
He said he probably was the sena-
ter referred to in recent Paris news
papers as the author OF amendments sus-
sested to President Wilson. He said
he had communicated his suggestions
to the President by letter on March 4
giving him information as to the senti-
rnent in the Senate.
" expressed the conviction that the
Senate would ratify the peace treaty II
IL contained the League Of Nations as
an integral part, whether amended or
not but thought a few amendments
would facilitate greatly its ratification"
the Senator said. Among these I mem
toned were a reservation to each ma
ton OF its exclusive control over
domestic subjects. a specific provision
that each nation might withdraw from
membership on giving q reasonable
notice. a definite statement that the ac-
oeptance of the burdens OF a mandatory
by any nation should be entirely OPP
tionsl and a specific reservation Of the
Monroe Doctrine"
Mr.. Hitchcock said he did not recon-